Board of Directors
Dr Yvonne Muthien
Independent Non-executive Chairperson
Yvonne is an experienced corporate executive and non-executive director. She is a non-executive director of the SA Reserve Bank and was previously chairperson of Bankserv and the Sasol Foundation. Her past executive experience included senior roles at Coca-Cola Africa, MTN Group and Sanlam.
Pieter Hanekom
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Pieter joined RFG in 2015 from Pioneer Foods where he was the executive responsible for the Ceres Beverage Company. He led the group’s successful entry into the fruit juice market. He was appointed Managing Director: Long Life Foods in 2017 and promoted to Deputy CEO in July 2020. Pieter succeeded Bruce Henderson as CEO on 1 October 2021.
Thabo Leeuw
Independent Non-executive Director
Thabo is the CEO and co-founder of the Thesele Group. He is the non-executive chairperson of Hulamin, non-executive chairperson of Vexila and independent chairperson of ICAS SA. He was previously a global director at Cazenove and director of Cazenove SA.
Selomane Maitisa
Independent Non-executive Director
Selomane is the part owner and director of strategy of Titan Marketing and also currently serves as a non-executive director on the Phatsima Properties and Alpha South Africa boards. She previously served as an executive director for DraftFCB SA and Metropolitan Health Group Holdings and held independent non-executive director positions in Metboard Properties, Imperial Logistics, Voith Turbo SA and Integrated Ship Handling.
Bongiwe Njobe
Independent Non-executive Director
Bongiwe has extensive experience in agricultural policy practice, FMCG and sustainability strategy and management. She is head of social investing for the FirstRand Group. She is a non-executive director of Pan-African Capital Holdings and has served on the boards of FruitSA and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.
Venessa Naidoo
Independent Non-executive Director
Venessa is an experienced chartered accountant, corporate financial executive and entrepreneur. She is a non-executive director of Rand Merchant Investment Holdings and Outsurance Holdings. She was the founding shareholder and served as a director and chief financial officer of Smile Telecoms Holdings from 2007 until 2021. Prior to that she was the group financial director for Johnnic Entertainment for seven years.
Chad Smart
Non-executive Director
Chad co-founded Capitalworks in 2006. He has over 20 years experience in private equity investing and corporate finance. He serves on the boards of a number of portfolio companies of Capitalworks, including Petmin Holdings, Rosond Holdings and Reclamation Holdings.
Garth Willis
Non-executive Director
Garth is a principal of Capitalworks private equity funds and has over 20 years’ experience in private equity investing and corporate finance. He serves on the boards of Minet Holdings Africa, Rosond Holdings, Douglas Green Bellingham and the Infrastructure Specialist Group.
Tiaan Schoombie
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director
Tiaan has been the CFO of RFG Foods since 2000. Prior to joining the Group, Tiaan spent nine years at Deemster Foods in financial management and later as general manager of the operation.
