Bio
Born: 16 July 1984
Place of Birth: Settlers Hospital, Grahamstown, South Africa
Parents: Philip Vermaak, Hilda Vermaak
Siblings: Lise Sorensen, Philip Vermaak
Residence: Nomad
Relationship Status: In a relationship
Early Life and Education
Jacobus (Cobus) Daniël Vermaak was born on 16 July 1984 at Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown, South Africa. He grew up on the family farm, New Essex, located in Manley Flats, about 22 kilometers east of Grahamstown. Cobus has an older sister and a younger brother. Notably, as a baby, he was already showing his adventurous spirit, planning escapes from the family homestead. One such instance involved him timing his exit from a faulty car boot as the vehicle went over a railway track, only to be safely returned home by the next car in the convoy.
At the age of two, Cobus ran away from home barefoot and pantsless but with hands full of sweets, making his way to his grandparents’ neighboring farm.
Cobus began his education at Kleuterland in Grahamstown (1989-1990) and continued to PJ Olivier Primary School (1991-1997). He attended Marlow Agricultural School for high school (1998-2002), where he served as head boy and was nicknamed “Chappie”. Cobus was determined to improve his academic performance each year and succeeded, earning the title of Dux Leerling in his final year.
He pursued higher education at the University of South Africa and Stellenbosch University, obtaining a B.Compt (Hons) in Accounting, Auditing, Company Law, and Tax. Cobus is a qualified Chartered Accountant, recognized by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Career Highlights
- Group CEO, Orange Petroleum (Nov 2022 – Present)
- Managing Director, Cenergy Consulting (Nov 2022 – Present)
- Deputy COO, HG Storage International (Jan 2018 – Nov 2022)
- Asset Manager, Glencore Oil Assets (Aug 2016 – Dec 2017)
- Assistant Manager, Deloitte London (Jan 2016 – Jul 2016)
- Senior Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers – Bermuda (Sep 2013 – Jun 2015)
- Consultant, FinFive Consulting – Johannesburg (Jan 2011 – Aug 2013)
- Auditor, Baker Tilly – Cape Town (Jan 2008 – Dec 2010)
Major Achievements and Awards
One of Cobus’ greatest achievements is overcoming a life-threatening illness, demonstrating his resilience and determination.
Personal Life
Cobus is an adventurer at heart, having traveled to all corners of the globe. Despite this adventurous spirit, he considers his biggest failures to be declining tickets to both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals.
He is often found enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of restaurants, bars, and various social events. An alcoholic beverage is rarely more than an arm’s length away from him.
His personal life remains somewhat private; however, on his 40th birthday, together with his partner, they announced their relationship via a very cute video on Instagram. Watch Here
Other Notable Contributions
Cobus Vermaak is known for enriching the lives of everyone who calls him a friend, leaving a positive impact on all who know him.