Veteran marketer to join Steinhoff
STEINHOFF Africa Retail (STAR) yesterday announced that businesswoman Wendy Luhabe would join its board as a non-executive director next year.
The group said Luhabe would bring a wealth of experience to the board, flowing from her experience in the corporate sector.
STAR chairperson Jayendra Naidoo said the group looked forward to Luhabe’s contributions in repositioning the company.
“Luhabe has an impressive track record as a business leader and has made a huge impact in the business community in South Africa,” Naidoo said.
Luhabe, who has served on the boards of the Industrial Development Corporation, Vodacom and the JSE, will join Heather Sonn and Fagmeedah Petersen-Cook on the board.
She is one of the founding directors of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings, a black women-owned investment company.
The group described her as a passionate advocate for the economic empowerment of women, youth mentorship and social entrepreneurship.
Last month, STAR announced that it would propose a change of its name back to Pepkor, subject to shareholders’ approval, to divorce itself from Steinhoff International.
The group also announced that Johan Cilliers would join the board as lead independent non-executive director, effective immediately, and Pieter Erasmus, the former chief executive of Pepkor, as non-executive director as of October 1.
STAR’s retail brands include Pep, Ackermans, Dealz, Russells, Bradlows, John Craig, Shoe City, Poco and Tekkie Town. The group was listed on the JSE in September last year with a market capitalisation of R70 billion, and it operates in 12 African countries with 5 100 stores across the continent.