Who Are We?
Our Management Team
Our management team is comprised of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds spanning engineering, technology, and business strategy. We are committed to delivering tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of our clients, ensuring each project is executed with precision.
Octoco Group
Heinrich de Lange
Managing Director & Founder
Heinrich, the Managing Director & Founder of Octoco Group, is a dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and business enthusiast with a track record of founding successful companies. His extensive industry experience and passion for creating cutting-edge products, solving complex challenges, and driving innovation resonate through his ventures. As a software and electrical engineer specialising in developing IoT and utility solutions, Heinrich leverages his wealth of knowledge and experience to propel our company forward. His leadership fosters a culture of innovation and growth, shaping the trajectory of our organisation towards enduring success.
Prof. G-J van Rooyen
Director of Engineering & Innovation
As Director of Engineering & Innovation for Octoco Group, Prof. G-J navigates technology opportunities and risks for clients. With extensive experience, he assists startups in establishing technological foundations and supports deep-tech clients with expert engineering insights. Prof. G-J's tenure as the Research Chair in the Internet of Things at Stellenbosch University underscores his dedication to industry collaboration and innovation management. His passion for fostering innovation at the intersection of disciplines is evident in his ongoing collaboration with Stellenbosch University as an Associate Professor Extraordinary in Industrial Engineering.Octoco Consulting
James de Villiers
Chief Executive Officer
James is the CEO of Octoco, having stepped into the role at the start of March 2026. His transition from CTO reflects a natural progression shaped by years of working at the intersection of engineering and business outcomes - where technical decisions meet real-world constraints, timelines, and impact. With a background in electronic engineering and machine learning, James brings a systems-level way of thinking to leadership. His focus has always extended beyond building technology to ensuring it is viable, scalable, and meaningful in practice. James's leadership is grounded in high standards, thoughtful execution, and a deep respect for the people and craft behind the work.
Jacques Burger
Chief Operations Officer
Jacques serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Through his specialization in novel technology adoption strategies and R&D risk estimation, Jacques helps transform proof-of-concepts into reality, and empower entrepreneurship and engineering endeavors. His role focuses on bringing products to market and fueling internal growth strategies, reflecting his commitment to operational excellence and innovation.
Lourens Leeuwner
Head of Embedded Engineering
Lourens is an accomplished hardware and firmware engineer. He specialises in IoT and renewable energy applications. His experience includes biosensor development, M2M communications, PCB design and product manufacturing. Lourens has established himself as an industry leader through his unique ability to guide clients from product ideation to commercialization. He leads a team of embedded engineers at Octoco and is responsible for upskilling and management of junior embedded prospects.
Christiaan van Rensburg
Head of Product
In his role as Head of Product, Christiaan focuses on fostering a product mindset across teams - helping engineers, QA specialists, and project managers look beyond individual tasks and engage with the broader purpose of what is being built. With a background in Information Systems Management, Christiaan brings a strong foundation in both software engineering and quality assurance. Over time, his focus has expanded beyond ensuring quality in execution to shaping what is being built, why it is being built, and how it should come together as a cohesive product.
Emile Lombard
Engineering Lead
Emile specializes in Informatics and IoT. As an Engineering Lead, he brings a wide range of expertise to Octoco, including embedded programming, PCB design and enterprise-level full stack software development. Emile's dedication to staying updated on technology trends ensures continuous skill enhancement, contributing to engineering excellence.Operations
Mieke van der Veen
Marketing Manager
As Marketing Manager, Mieke brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and execution shaped by her experience in both accounting and marketing. As a CIMA affiliate, with an Honours B.Com in Management Accounting and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, she combines analytical insight with creative direction. Mieke leads Octoco’s marketing function with a focus on clarity, consistency, and impact - ensuring that the company’s brand, messaging, and presence accurately reflect the depth of its technical expertise. Her ability to balance data-driven decision-making with creative problem-solving enables her to drive initiatives that are both thoughtful and effective.