Healthcare major Dis-Chem says it has completed its shift from a founder-led business to a fully professional management structure.
The company told Business Day the changes are part of a long-planned succession process and will not affect its strategy, governance or long-term direction.
“The recent changes are part of a natural evolution in Dis-Chem’s journey from a founder-led business to a professionally managed organisation,” it said.
“No new strategic shifts are anticipated as a result of these changes.”
On Friday the retailer announced that founder Ivan Saltzman will retire from his executive role in June, marking a major leadership transition at the pharmacy group he helped build into one of South Africa’s largest healthcare retailers.
This followed the resignation of executive director Saul Saltzman, who will leave his operational role in February but will remain on the board as a non-independent non-executive director. The broader leadership transition began when Ivan stepped down from his CEO role in 2023, after his wife and co-founder, Lynette, left her executive position in 2022.
Dis-Chem was formed in 1978 and has expanded from a small family-run business to a national retail powerhouse. Under Ivan’s leadership, the group rolled out hundreds of stores, introduced new product lines, expanded regionally and listed on the JSE in 2016.
His departure followed a broader restructuring at the retailer, including him stepping down as CEO in 2023 and major share redistributions this year that shifted R6.8bn in shares to brothers Dan and Mark Saltzman.
Chair Larry Nestadt described Ivan Saltzman as “a driving force” behind Dis-Chem’s growth and “one of the retail giants of his generation”, saying the company would continue to benefit from his experience in his new strategic role.
Ivan Saltzman will remain on the board as a nonexecutive director and deputy chair.
Dis-Chem said the shift from founder leadership to a fully professional management model has been under way for years.
The retailer said its governance structures remain strong, with all relevant committees in place, and said Ivan Saltzman’s move into a nonexecutive advisory role will continue to provide continuity and institutional knowledge at board level.
Dis-Chem also rejected any suggestion that the leadership changes signal deeper strategic uncertainty. It said its growth plans, including the evolution from a pharmacy retailer to a broader healthcare provider, remain intact.
On shareholding matters, the company said there are no plans for further share sales or family ownership changes, adding that recent share movements within the Saltzman family were private and unrelated to leadership transitions.
Ivan Saltzman said the decision to step back from day-to-day management comes as Dis-Chem strengthens its leadership structures.
“It is the right time to move to a more strategic position,” he said, adding that he looked forward to supporting the group as deputy chair.
CEO Rui Morais said Saltzman’s influence will continue to guide the company’s decision-making.
“He built a brand, shaped an industry and improved the lives of millions of people,” Morais said.
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