Chris Heiberg

Chris Heiberg joined the Lewis Group in June 1975. He became a regional controller in April 1980, a Divisional General Manager in April 1982 and a director of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd in February 1984. Chris is now responsible for all marketing and merchandising across the Lewis Group.

Derek Loudon

Derek Loudon was appointed General Manager: Merchandise of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd in May 2000. His retail experience extends from 1981 when he began ten years with the Pick 'n Pay Stores Limited Group, where his career evolved from trainee floor manager to buyer. Derek gained production experience with Airflex Furniture Industries (Pty) Ltd as procurement manager before joining Morkels Limited for eight years where he was the electrical merchandise executive from 1997 to 1999. During this time, Derek travelled extensively around the world sourcing products in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Alan Solomon

Alan Solomon was appointed General Manager: Marketing of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd in May 2002. Prior to this, he had his own marketing and advertising consultancy following seven years as creative and marketing manager for Moregro Limited from May 1992 to January 1999. Alan has been creative director and copy chief for both above and below-the-line advertising agencies and has been involved in all aspects of advertising since 1979. His agency experience includes working at BBDO (Cape) (Pty) Ltd from 1983 to 1985, Young & Rubicam Inc from 1985 to 1986 and Bates Wells from 1986 to 1990.

Ivan King

Ivan King started his career in retail furniture in 1969 in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 1976 where he joined a leading bedding manufacturer. In 1988 he moved to Montays Limited as a Merchandise Executive. Montays Limited was subsequently bought out by Rusfurn Group Limited which was in turn taken over by JD Group Limited. In 1995 he left the JD Group Limited and started the Freedom Furnishers business which was bought out by Profurn Limited and subsequently the JD Group Limited. In April 2003 Ivan was part of the management buy out of the Freedom Furnishers business by Lifestyle Living.

Ferdi Lamprecht

Ferdi Lamprecht joined the Lewis Group in 1978 as Manager: Property and Development and in 1984 he was made responsible for managing the Lewis Group's property portfolio and leases. He was appointed a director of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd in February 1984.

During his 25 years with the Lewis Group, Ferdi has been instrumental in the increase in the number of stores. Ferdi retired at the end of March 2005.

Jan Horn

Jan Horn joined the Lewis Group in July 2001 to manage the human resources function. Before joining the Lewis Group, Jan worked at Pep Stores (Pty) Ltd ("Pep Stores") as a personnel manager for 13 years where his responsibilities ranged from human resources to personnel and salary administration.

Prior to working at Pep Stores, Jan spent two years in human resources at Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Limited and four years with Atlantis Diesel Engines (Pty) Ltd.

Johan Enslin

Johan Enslin joined the Lewis Group as a salesman in August 1993. Later that year, he was promoted to branch manager, managing four different branches, prior to becoming an assistant regional controller in 1996.

In April 1997, Johan was promoted to regional controller. In 2000 he became Divisional General Manager, managing 67 branches. In April 2002 he was promoted to General Manager: Operations and is now responsible for the day-to-day operational management of all stores.

John Young

John Young joined the Lewis Group in January 1972 as a salesman in Windhoek with the acquisition of Lewis (Namibia). He was promoted to branch inspector in 1974 for Namibia and the Boland. In 1978 John was promoted to branch manager and managed various stores.

He was then employed for two years by Iscor Limited as a buyer. In 1984 John was re-employed by the Lewis Group and was promoted to regional controller of Gordonia and Goldfield Regions in 1986.

John then went on to become Divisional General Manager of the Central Division, the largest division in the Lewis Group. After five years, he was promoted to head office as General Manager: Credit Operations.

André Strydom

André Strydom joined the Lewis Group in 1995 as a trainee manager. He subsequently held positions of assistant regional controller and regional controller. In 2001 he was made head office Credit Manager for Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd.

During 2002 he joined the Best Electric division and was promoted to Divisional General Manager. In 2004 he was promoted to General Manager: Best Electric and is now responsible for the day-to-day running of all Best Electric stores.

Neil Timm

Neil Timm started in the furniture trade at Montays Limited in 1978. He quickly rose in rank and was appointed branch manager in 1980 and later divisional manager. He became Group Merchandise/Marketing Director of Montays Limited in 1986. The company was subsequently taken over by Rusfurn Group Limited and then by the JD Group Limited. In 1995 Neil left JD Group Limited and started the Freedom Furnishers business which was bought out by Profurn Limited and subsequently the JD Group Limited. In 2003 he was part of the management buy out of the Freedom Furnishers business by Lifestyle Living.

Les Davies

Les Davies has been with the Lewis Group for 17 years and was appointed as Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd's Financial Director in July 1989. His experience covers a wide range of financial, administrative, legal, insurance and statutory compliance matters. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Les spent five years as Finance Director of AMC Classic (Pty) Ltd before joining the Lewis Group.

Paul Croucher

Paul Croucher joined the Lewis Group in February 2004 as the Group Management Accountant and was appointed Company Secretary on 19 November 2004. Prior to joining the Lewis Group, Paul spent 14 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers as an Audit Manager, specialising in the retail and manufacturing industries. Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed his articles at Ernst and Young in 1988. He is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Charles Irwin

Charles Irwin joined the Lewis Group in February 1998 and became a director of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd in March 1999. He has spent his entire working career in the retail industry. He has worked his way through the ranks of operational management in the fields of consumer credit, fast moving consumer goods, mass merchandising and general retail management. Charles made the transition to information technology in 1985 after qualifying in information technology project management and prior to joining the Lewis Group spent nine years in information technology at McCarthy Limited, a national retail organisation.

Brett van Aswegen

Brett van Aswegen has been involved in the retail credit industry in South Africa for ten years. Brett spent four years with the Edcon Group and then moved to The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited for a short period before joining the Lewis Group as the Group Credit Risk Manager in July 1999. In 2002, Brett was appointed General Manager: Credit Risk, specialising in scoring and strategic customer management.

Kenny van Aardt

Kenny van Aardt joined the Lewis Group in July 2003 as an executive director of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Kenny has been involved in the South African and international fast moving consumer goods/retail industry for the past 15 years, in both executive financial and general management positions. His previous position before joining the Lewis Group was with Edcon. Kenny joined Edcon as Group Financial Director in July 2000, was appointed to the main Board in November 2000 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2002, which position he held until April 2003. Prior to working for Edcon he worked for RJR Nabisco Food Company (Pty) Ltd from 1995 to July 2000.