Wrap Text
Sanlam Limited, 1 February 2002.
MARINUS DALING PASSES AWAY
Mr Marinus Daling, former chairman of Sanlam, passed away peacefully at home
on Friday, 1 February 2002 at the age of 55. He was diagnosed with cancer
in August 2000 and retired as chairman of Sanlam on 31 December last year.
Mr Daling joined Sanlam's Actuarial department in 1966 after completing his
BSc (cum laude) at the University of Pretoria. He qualified as an actuary
through the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland in 1970 and became the youngest
member of Sanlam's general management in 1974. In 1985 his Sanlam career
shifted to Sankorp with his appointment as executive director, becoming
deputy chairman and chief executive in 1991. In 1993 he became first deputy
chairman and later chairman of Sanlam's board following the death of Mr
Pierre Steyn. In 1997 he became executive chairman of Sanlam and of the
listed company, Sanlam Limited, in 1998. He split these two functions in
May last year when Dr Leon Vermaak was appointed as chief executive officer,
with Mr Daling becoming chairman again.
When retired as chairman of Sanlam he was also chairman of Santam and a
member of the board of Engen. He was also, among others, a member of the
Board of Governors of the SA Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the AHI,
the Institute of Directors, the SA Academy for Art and Science, the
Millennium Labour Council and a trustee of Business South Africa and the WWF-
SA.
Mr Ton Vosloo, who became chairman of Sanlam on 1 January this year, paid
tribute to Mr Daling:
"Marinus Daling wrote volumes in the history of Sanlam and the South African
business sector. As a member of Sanlam's board I came to know him over the
past 12 years as an outstanding leader, someone who commanded respect by
virtue of his extraordinary intellect while at the same time remaining
humble, and a man with an incredibly strong sense of fairness, honesty and
candour, and an exceptionally well-developed sense of humour.
"Last year the members of his executive committee at Sanlam were approached
without his knowledge to give a brief summary of the most important things
they associated with Marinus. The idea was to read these comments at a
special function which unfortunately never took place. I would like to quote
some of these words from those who worked closely with him:
`Marinus doesn't lay blame but rather looks for solutions with you without
undermining your authority.'
`Marinus has an infinite ability to patiently unravel a problem right down
to its very essence without getting flustered. For him all problems have a
positive outcome.'
`He has the ability to accept change and to manage it accordingly without
losing sight of the feelings of those affected by it.'
`Marinus's leadership lies in his ability to get a diverse business
environment in South Africa and people with different backgrounds and
different ideas to work together as a team.'
`He can show childlike excitement about a project, but there are few out
there who can challenge him intellectually.'
`As a leader Marinus empowers people very effectively. He lets you know what
he wants you to achieve, gives you the necessary resources and then leaves
you to get the job done in your own way. You know he's expecting feedback at
the appropriate time - bad news by e-mail and good news over the phone.'
"Marinus embodied these characteristics described by his management team in
his business career in, among other things, the expansion and later
successful unbundling of Sankorp, the far-reaching initiatives with
Metropolitan in the early nineties that led to the empowerment and
establishment of NAIL, the restructuring of Sanlam into decentralised
businesses in 1998 with the associated culture of renewal in the
organisation, and the demutualisation and listing of Sanlam in 1998," Vosloo
continued.
"Other institutions also honoured him for his outstanding leadership during
his career: the Junior Businessman of the Year Award from the Johannesburg
Junior Afrikaans Chamber of Business; Young Tukkie Alumnus of the Year from
the University of Pretoria; the Prestige Award for the promotion of the
economy from the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurverenigings (FAK); Business
Personality of the Year from the Cape Times; the MS Louw Award for
outstanding achievement in the business world from the Afrikaanse
Handelsinstituut (AHI); the Frans du Toit Medal for Business Leadership from
the SA Academy for Art and Science; and an honorary doctorate in Business
Leadership from the University of the Free State.
"Marinus Daling - visionary, empowerer, intellectual giant and a people
person in the business world. A man who always heeded the advice of his
father, who had taught him to jump at the right opportunity. `But how do I
know when it's the right opportunity'' he wanted to know. `You must keep
jumping all the time,' was the answer.
"Our country, its people, and in particular Sanlam and the business world
will miss Marinus Daling but remain grateful for and will build on his
enviable legacy. Our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time are
with his wife, Sandra, his children, Ciske, Marten, Dirkje and Miena, his
granddaughter, Sophia, and his mother and other family," Vosloo concluded.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
End
Released by Frans van Rensburg, Sanlam (021) 947-4893 / Cell 082 805 9245
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