Pick n Pay has appointed retail executive Spencer Sonn as its CEO designate, with plans for him to take over from current chief executive Sean Summers in May 2028.
Sonn will begin working alongside Summers from 1 February 2027, giving the incoming CEO more than a year to transition into the role and work with the current leadership on the retailer’s turnaround.
Sonn brings extensive grocery and fresh-food retail experience to Pick n Pay. He spent most of his career at Woolworths, joining the company in 2002 as a category manager before taking on several senior leadership roles.
He served as managing director of Woolworths New Zealand for five years before returning to South Africa as Woolworths’ Chief Customer Officer.
Pick n Pay said Sonn’s international experience will be valuable, particularly because his previous role involved both corporate and franchise stores and a workforce of about 22,000 employees.
Summers returned to lead Pick n Pay in 2023 as the retailer worked through a major turnaround. The company said succession planning was an important part of his mandate ahead of his contract ending in May 2028.
The extended handover period is intended to allow Sonn to settle into the leadership role while working closely with Summers on the business’s recovery.
Sonn described his appointment as an “exciting challenge”, saying he is looking forward to working with the Pick n Pay team and contributing to the next phase of its turnaround.
He also praised the retailer as a well-loved South African brand with significant potential.
Main Image: Bizcommunity
