Craig Robertson – BCompt
DIRECTOR
Craig is the founder of Oakhurst and is involved in conceptualising Oakhurst’s strategic direction and key investment decisions.
Property experience
Craig was instrumental in the creation of a sizeable property portfolio for ARB Holdings. Over the years, Craig has successfully acquired, redeveloped and disposed of a number of residential and industrial properties across South Africa.
Corporate experience
Craig completed his Articles with PKF. In a career spanning over 20 years, the last 15 of which as Chief Executive Officer, Craig was instrumental in growing ARB Electrical Wholesalers from a small, privately owned business with 2 branches into SA’s largest independent electrical wholesaling group which successfully listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (“JSE”) in 2007. Craig exited the corporate world in 2012 to focus on building his personal property portfolio.
Byron Nichles – CA(SA), CGMA (UK)
DIRECTOR
Byron is CEO of Oakhurst Property Group and is responsible for driving its strategic growth, identifying and concluding new property acquisitions as well as managing all aspects of Oakhurst’s operations.
Property experience
Byron was a key member of the Bridge Capital Properties team that successfully raised the Springbok Fund in 2006 from European investors seeking to gain exposure to the South African commercial property market. During 2008 and 2009, the Springbok Fund was the top performing commercial property fund in the Investment Property Databank (IPD) South African all fund universe.
Byron’s property experience further includes acquisitions, disposals, leases and development including the acquisition and development of several new branch premises for ARB across South Africa as well as the R400m expansion and redevelopment of BMG’s head office campus and centralised supply chain distribution complex in Johannesburg.
Corporate experience
Byron has significant corporate finance and investment banking expertise, gained from both Deloitte and as a founding shareholder and director of Bridge Capital Group. After selling his stake in Bridge Capital in 2008, Byron held senior directorships of several listed companies including Amalgamated Appliance Holdings (now part of the Bidvest Group), ARB Holdings and Invicta Holdings.
Leon van Lill – Diploma in Audio Engineering
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Leon is responsible for managing all onsite activities and for the successful delivery of all of Oakhurst’s developments.
Property experience
Leon has over 16 years construction and related project management experience in South Africa and Canada. After a short stint in the family construction business, Leon branched out to start his own construction company, Marleo Contractors, in 2007 focusing on residential renovations, new builds and developments in the Western Cape. To date, Leon has completed over 80 upmarket houses ranging in size from 180m² to 1,100m².
Leon was instrumental in the successful construction and completion of Oakhurst’s 45 on Rathfelder, 26 on Brommaert and Wycombe Place developments in Upper Constantia. After having worked as independent project manager on Oakhurst’s developments since 2017, Leon officially joined Oakhurst as Development Manager in early 2021 and project managed the completion of Chantecler Terrace in just over 8 months. In February 2023, Leon was appointed a director of Oakhurst.
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS
Patricia Winks – Office Manager
Taufeeq Sassman – Site Manager
Esrar Mongie – Site Manager
Mouti Rasdien – Site Manager
