Dis-Chem CEO Ivan Saltzman to step down

Ivan Saltzman, who co-founded Dis-Chem with his wife Lynette in 1978, has announced that he will step down as CEO at the end of June 2023. 

Saltzman will remain an executive director on the board and remain an active executive management team member.

Rui Morais, Dis-Chem’s CFO, will take over as chief executive from Saltzman on 1 July 2023.

Morais joined the Group in 2010 and has been CFO and executive leadership team member since August 2012. He has also been involved in developing Dis-Chem’s strategy over the past 11 years.

Julia Pope, the current executive head of finance, will succeed Morais as Dis-Chem’s chief financial officer. 

“The group’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and transformation ensured that Pope’s six years with the Group prepared her for this leadership and management role,” Dis-Chem said.

Pope has 19 years of retail experience and has worked with Morais since her appointment in 2017.

She will assume her new role as CFO and an executive director on the board effective 1 July 2023.

Dis-Chem chairman, Larry Nestadt, said Saltzman is one of the extraordinary retailers of his generation who has transformed retail pharmacy. 

“Under his leadership, Dis-Chem evolved from a family business to a leading listed, and proudly South African, corporate business,” Nestadt said.

Saltzman said over the past 45 years, he and Lynette had grown the business into the largest retail pharmacy chain by market share in South Africa.

“Together with Lynette, I look forward to spending time in the stores and ensuring that our staff continue to provide the value and service that has made the brand what it is today,” he said.