DISGRACED former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje was appointed a financial manager at East Rand earth-moving machinery company, Bell Equipment, on February 1. Bell’s financial executive Derek Crandon said on Wednesday that Cronje’s primary responsibility would be ”the insurance-related aspects of the business.” Cronje, banned from cricket for life after a match-fixing scandal, is in his second year of a Master’s degree in business leadership from Unisa. ”He’s learning the ropes and we’re here to help him,” a tight-lipped Crandon said. He emphasised the company had made a decision based on Cronje’s ”outstanding academic record.” Cronje has a BCom from the University of the Orange Free State. Asked if the decision to employ Cronje had been an individual one, Crandon replied that the company’s board of directors had agreed unanimously to take him on board. He also said cricket was not exactly a popular topic of discussion in the company canteen. ”We talk about work. And only work. That’s what we’re here to do.” – Sapa