Dylan Bettencourt
Following Vikesh Ramsunder’s resignation as Clicks CEO, the leading health and beauty retailer has appointed their first female chief executive officer Bertina Engelbrecht in a historic appointment.
Engelbrecht, an attorney, was the company’s Group Corporate Affairs Director and she will start her new role in January 2022.
This move makes her South Africa’s first Black female to lead a JSE-listed retail group.
The 58-year-old Engelbrecht has a history of impressive appointments. She previously held the post of General Manager for Shell SA Energy, Director of Organisational Effectiveness at Sea Harvest and spent nearly a decade with logistics giant, Transnet.
“Clicks Group is on a sustained growth trajectory thanks largely to the quality of the highly-experienced executive team,” said Engelbrecht.
“I look forward to leading this strong team from January next year,” she said.
David Nurek, Clicks Group Chairperson said the appointment was right for both Engelbrecht and Clicks.
“Appointing an internal successor of Bertina’s calibre highlights the depth of talent and commitment to sustainable transformation and human capital development within the company,” said Nurek.
Ramsunder has taken a job opportunity in Australia. His leaving South Africa emphasises the effect the ‘brain-drain’ has on South African companies as another top executive takes their expertise to another country.
Ramsunder said he is leaving both South Africa and Clicks with a heavy heart.
“It has been an honour to lead the Clicks Group and to have been part of such a dynamic and transformed business,” he said.
Image source: @Bizcommunity
