Capespan, a prominent fruit supplier based in South Africa, has announced the appointment of André de Klerk as its new Chief Executive Officer. This decision forms part of a strategic shift within the company’s senior management.
André de Klerk, previously the commercial director and a board member, takes on this role immediately. He succeeds Charl du Bois, who has stepped down following a successful period where Capespan reported substantial growth.
Capespan, headquartered in Cape Town, has a strong presence in the food and beverage industry. With 14 years of experience in the company’s senior management, de Klerk is well-positioned to guide Capespan through its next phase of growth.
“I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by the current leadership team and to working with our people to continue delivering sustainable growth and maximizing value for our customers and producers,” de Klerk stated.
Charl du Bois has dedicated ten years to Capespan, with the last one year and nine months as CEO. In a LinkedIn post, he expressed his intention to leave in order to “explore other interesting personal opportunities.”
The chairman of Capespan’s board, Reinhardt Siegrühn, remarked, “The board wishes to express its appreciation to Charl and Jolanda for their contribution to Capespan during a period of strong operational and commercial progress. We thank them for their leadership and commitment to the Group and wish them every success in their future endeavours.”
Furthermore, as part of this management reshuffle, Jolanda van Heerden, the Chief Financial Officer, will also part ways with the company. Her responsibilities will now be managed collectively by finance heads Fia Karstens and Albert Steyn.
In addition, the company has appointed Bernie Denton, who leads the farming division, as the Chief Operating Officer and a board member. Denton brings 12 years of experience to this role.
Capespan is owned by Agrarius Agri Value Chain RF Proprietary, which acquired a 93% stake in the fresh produce supplier in 2023. The group primarily specializes in marketing citrus, grapes, and pome fruit, supplying over 60 countries.
In summary, as Capespan navigates these changes, it remains committed to fortifying its position in the food and drink business, focusing on evolving consumer trends and delivering value across the food and beverage industry.
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