Our People
Working with good people, with nature, with pride
Abagold has always been about people — from the first investors who have walked this more than forty-year journey with us, to the staff who nurture our abalone, the Hermanus communities in which we operate, and the clients who value the cultural significance of our product.
Based in Hermanus
A people business
Based in Hermanus, our team brings decades of aquaculture experience, technical expertise and a deep respect for abalone as both a natural and a culturally significant resource. From hatchery specialists caring for our abalone from day one to farm technicians, processing professionals and support staff, every role is grounded in care, responsibility and respect for our craft.
We invest in our people through training and development, supporting their skills and wellbeing so that Abagold remains a place where careers grow alongside our business.
We also invest in our community through the Abagold Development Trust. Visit the Abagold Development Trust
Culture
A winning culture
Abagold is proud of its winning culture — team-oriented, non-hierarchical and innovative. It gives people the chance to make bigger, earlier and more frequent contributions than they might in many companies, and it rests on five foundational values.
Integrity
Through purpose and principle we ensure natural and safe products.
Respect
For each other, shareholders, society and the planet.
Quality
In everything we do and produce.
Innovation
Striving for continuous improvement.
Responsibility
Towards the team and the long-term sustainability of our company.
For people who want to learn quickly and be given the opportunity to try new things in a high-performing aquaculture organisation, Abagold is a great place to work.
Recognition over the years includes Exporter of the Year awards in 2008, 2012 and 2014, the Female Entrepreneur award in 2011, an IDC Business Partner award in 2013 and the SADC Annual Quality award in 2014.
Culture at Abagold reaches beyond the farm — the Abagold Choir performed at the 2019 Hermanus FynArts festival. Watch the performance
Life at Abagold
Room to grow
A diverse business with diverse departments calls for a diverse set of skills — and offers a broad range of opportunities to develop them.
Career development & growth
From your first day on the job you will be expected to learn, contribute and grow your career. In your Abagold Way mini business you learn what happens in your department and how your work contributes to the organisation's objectives and vision.
All training and development is role-based, complemented by extensive adult education so that every employee has a solid foundation of numeracy and communication to build on. Performance is measured and rewarded, with goal setting, coaching and feedback at its core — and we believe in broad, lateral experience across the business, not only vertical growth.
Diversity
At Abagold, diversity is not a programme or an initiative; it is the way we do business and one of the keys to our success. Our work must reflect and respect the cultures, ideas and interests of the markets we serve and the communities we touch and attract our employees from.
We listen carefully to diverse points of view, respect the religions, cultures and ethics of people throughout the world, and are transforming our workforce at every level so that it reflects the demographics of our country.
Innovation
Ours is a team-focused environment that thrives on innovation, actively recognising and rewarding people who bring improvements about — small or large — in all they do.
Abagold was named national winner of the Innovation Award at the 2014 Productivity SA awards for a water reticulation system designed by engineering manager Christiaan de Wet: up to 18% more energy-efficient than the system it replaced, moving more than 10 million litres of sea water an hour and engineered for over 15 million at full capacity.
Safety
Our first priority is that employees, contractors and visitors are safe in every area of our business. We offer extensive safety training, and our team of safety officers continuously monitors workplace practices — no one works under the influence of intoxicating substances, and regular random testing keeps it that way.
Our Wellness Programme and workplace Occupational Health Clinic support the health of all employees, with a focus on HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis — creating a healthy, positive work environment for everyone.
Careers
Looking for work in Hermanus?
If you are looking for work in Hermanus, Abagold might just be your answer. We have always embraced innovation and worked to keep abalone cultivation in South Africa world class — you can see it in our ground-breaking products, and in a dynamic environment where your skills and your career can grow and develop.
We know that every day, new ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. At Abagold you will be respected, you will contribute to the bottom line, and you will produce quality in everything you do.
To submit your CV or enquire about work opportunities at Abagold, email applications@abagold.co.za
Women in Aquaculture
AquaWomen — ownership grown on the farm
Empowerment at Abagold extends beyond our own payroll. AquaWomen (Pty) Ltd, a basket-manufacturing company that grew out of Abagold's basket-making division in Hermanus, began operating in September 2017 with a clear objective: to empower its long-serving black employees while encouraging loyalty and developing skills.
The employees hold the majority of the company's shares, so the income AquaWomen generates flows to the women who earn it. Today this BBBEE-certified team supplies quality, affordable abalone baskets to producers across the Western Cape — careers that began on our farm and now belong to them.
Learn more at aquawomen.co.za
Leadership
Message from the MD
Abagold is built on the belief that sustainable aquaculture can deliver both exceptional products and lasting impact. For over 30 years, we have cultivated premium abalone on the southern coast of Africa — earning a reputation for quality, innovation, and stewardship.
As Managing Director, I am honoured to lead a team that is deeply committed to operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and long-term value creation.
Our business operates in a complex and evolving global landscape — shaped by shifting markets, climate realities, and technological advancement. In response, we are strengthening our core operations while actively pursuing efficiencies, product innovation, and geographic diversification.
Our focus remains on what we do best: producing the world's most trusted farmed abalone through methods that respect nature, empower people, and deliver consistency to our global customers. We continue to invest in infrastructure, systems, and talent to improve resilience and ensure that Abagold remains globally competitive for decades to come.
Looking ahead, we are committed to unlocking growth through strategic partnerships, careful innovation, and disciplined execution — while staying true to our founding purpose: to protect a rare species, create meaningful jobs, and build a company South Africa can be proud of.
Thank you for your interest in Abagold. We look forward to what the future holds.
Marius Hugo
July 2025
Key Management
The team leading Abagold
The senior team responsible for Abagold's day-to-day operations, finances and markets.
Marius Hugo
Managing Director
Marius was appointed Managing Director of Abagold in 2025, following three years as Chief Operating Officer, and leads the strategic direction and overall operations of the company with a focus on resilience, sustainability and long-term growth. As COO he oversaw all farming operations in South Africa and Oman, drove significant cost optimisation and championed improvements in feed conversion and energy efficiency. He holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a degree in Engineering from Stellenbosch University, and is committed to maintaining Abagold's position as a global leader in premium, sustainably farmed abalone.
Enver Manchest
Financial Director
A chartered accountant with more than fifteen years in financial management, Enver qualified first as a pharmacist before completing his postgraduate diploma in accounting at UCT and his articles with Ernst & Young. His career spans Standard Bank's Structured Finance division, divisional CFO at Eqstra and CFO of Transit Freight Forwarding. He joined Abagold in January 2018.
Werner Piek
Sales & Marketing Executive
Werner joined Abagold in 2006 to head up the new processing plant. After studying food technology at the Cape Technikon he began his career in the fresh fruit industry at PPECB, later joining an internet start-up marketing fresh fruit online. A founder director of Fairtrade South Africa, he served two years as chairperson of the FTSA trust and represented Southern Africa on the African Fairtrade Network.
Rowan Timmer
Chief Operating Officer
Rowan joined Abagold in 2025 as Processing Executive, after seventeen years at HIK Abalone Farm in roles culminating in Processing and Innovation Manager. With a wealth of industry experience at the forefront of abalone quality and product development, he now serves as Chief Operating Officer.
Governance
Board of Directors
Abagold is guided by a strong board of directors, each passionate about the company and the abalone industry in South Africa, with Marius Hugo leading the team as Managing Director.
Meet the BoardMake your mark by making a difference
In the decades ahead the world will need over 50% more food than it can produce today. At Abagold you will be part of a sustainable company producing quality abalone and feeds in a natural way — HACCP-accredited, and focused on reducing our environmental impact.
Get in touch