Spur appoints first female CEO, Val Nichas

Retail 5 October 2020

Spur Corporation announced that it has appointed its first female leader Val Nichas as its new executive director and group chief executive officer.

Nichas, will succeed Pierre van Tonder who will retire on 31 December 2020 after 38 years of service.

Nichas is an experienced strategist who has worked extensively in the restaurant sector and was formerly managing executive of quick-service restaurants (QSR) brands at Famous Brands, responsible for a portfolio of franchised brands with over 600 restaurants across Steers, Fishaways and Giramundo.

Starting her career in marketing and advertising, she served as marketing director of Edgars between 1994 and 1998, senior vice president of international food company Rich Products Corporation, and managing director of Tequila Advertising.

She has also consulted to Nando’s Chickenland and was one of the leaders of the Nando’s advertising account team whilst at Tequila\TBWA.

She joined Famous Brands in 1999 as marketing director of Debonairs Pizza and later served as managing executive of Wimpy (then 506 restaurants) and Steers (then 492 restaurants) before her appointment as head of QSR brands.

Nichas has also managed her own consulting business for the past eight years, specialising in business strategy and planning.

“I am humbled that the board has entrusted me with leading Spur Corporation into its quantum growth phase. I am also pleased that Cristina will join me as CFO at this great organisation," said Nichas.

"We pay tribute to Pierre and the team who have established this impressive portfolio of great South African brands. Leveraging on this, we will collaborate with our people, franchise partners and suppliers to innovate and invigorate our brands into even more compelling and memorable dining experiences for our customers.”

In addition to this, Spur' also appointed Cristina Teixeira as group chief financial officer and as an executive director with effect from 1 February 2021. Teixeira will replace current CFO Phillip Matthee who has requested to step down from this position to take up a senior position in the finance department. He will assume the role of commercial accounting executive.

Teixeira has 12 years’ experience as a CFO in listed companies and was voted Businesswoman of the Year (corporate category) by the Businesswomen’s Association of SA in 2013.

Written by: Staff Writer.

Guzzle Media