Botten, a CA (SA), first joined Spar in 1994, and has served as MD of the Spar North Rand, Spar Lowveld and Spar Eastern Cape divisions. He was appointed managing director of the biggest division, Spar South Rand, in 2010.
O’ Connor welcomed Botten as the company's new group CEO. "He has built an incredible amount of experience in the retail market over many years, notably in numerous leadership roles within Spar, and will continue to drive us forward strongly, placing our culture of caring and community first,” said O’ Connor.
Hankinson, who has served as chairman since 2004, had stayed on one extra year since turning 70. O’ Connor, who rejoined Spar in 2014, has served as group CEO and member of the international Spar board for the past 6 years.
The retail group, which is listed on the JSE and is a member of Spar International which operates across 48 countries, said that O’ Connor's appointment as chairman ensures the company and its numerous local and international divisions continue to benefit from his deep institutional knowledge of the company and the retail industry as a whole.
The effective dates for the changes will be 1 March 2021, when Hankinson formerly steps down.
“We would like to thank Mike for his stellar service and steadying hand at the helm since he was first appointed to the board in September 2004. His guidance, sound leadership – especially when things get tough – and strategic input has helped the group grow strongly over more than a decade and we wish him extremely well in his well-deserved retirement,” said O’ Connor.
To ensure high levels of corporate governance and independence, independent non-executive director, Andrew Waller, who has experience on both the audit and risk committees, becomes the lead independent director of the group.
To drive diversity and further strengthen regional reach, former South Rand Spar marketing executive, Jerome Jacobs, has been promoted to MD of North Rand and joins Spar’s executive committee for the first time.
In another key move aimed at harnessing internal strengths and rewarding performance, Des Borrageiro is promoted from MD of Gauteng North Rand to head up Gauteng South Rand.
