Meet Jacques Gouws – The Hanson Group's Chief Operating Officer

Jacques Gouws, The Hanson Group's COO

Originally from Pretoria, South Africa, Jacques Gouws moved to the United States with his family in 2004 after graduating from Pretoria Boys High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2009. During his time at Georgia Tech, Jacques completed a co-op with BMW, gaining hands-on experience at both their South Carolina and Germany manufacturing plants, where he focused on quality control as well as production line design and optimization. 

Jacques began his professional career with Siemens North America, joining the Industrial Automation group. In this role, he was responsible for the engineering, programming, and commissioning of various automation systems.   After almost five years with Siemens, Jacques transitioned to a new chapter, joining his wife’s family business—The Hanson Group. 

He officially joined The Hanson Group, LLC in 2014. The company is a cutting-edge materials science firm that develops and supplies advanced raw materials and fully formulated polyurea systems for a wide array of industries, including sporting goods, aerospace, military, optics, automotive, mining, oil & gas, and more. Renowned for its agility, innovation, and collaborative approach to problem-solving, The Hanson Group has established itself as a go-to partner for tailored chemical solutions. 

Over the past decade, Jacques has worn many hats within the organization—serving as manufacturing engineer, operations manager, sales manager, and more. In his current role as The Hanson Group's COO, he oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and cross-functional alignment to meet the evolving needs of customers and partners. 

Outside the office, Jacques enjoys mountain biking, hiking, exploring new places, and spending meaningful time with his family.