3 days ago
Growthpoint announces leadership changes with Estienne de Klerk as new Group CEO
Estienne de Klerk, CEO of Growthpoint Properties SA, has been appointed as Group CEO from July 1, 2026, following the retirement of the current CEO Norbet Sasse.
Image: File
Growthpoint Properties has appointed Estienne de Klerk as Group CEO, effective July 1, 2026, and José Snyders will step into the role of Group Chief Financial Officer, from January 1, the same year.
Growthpoint said in a statement Monday that it plans leadership changes well in advance to ensure stable, experienced leadership and a strong, embedded culture.
In 2022, Growthpoint reported that the current CEO Norbert Sasse would retire from the role. Estienne de Klerk, currently Growthpoint South Africa CEO, will succeed Sasse as Group CEO. De Klerk's appointment had followed a structured succession planning process overseen by the Board over several years, the group said.
De Klerk is a chartered accountant and a Harvard Business School alumnus, having recently completed the Advanced Management Programme. He holds a BCom in Industrial Psychology and BCom Honours degrees in Marketing and Accountancy from the University of Johannesburg. He is also a certified Master Practitioner in Real Estate (PPRA).
With three decades of experience across banking and listed property, and nearly 20 years with Growthpoint in a progression of senior executive roles, de Klerk has expertise in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, operations, BBBEE, and industry transformation.
He has held numerous leadership roles in the sector, including Chairman of the SA REIT Association, Past President of the South African Property Owners Association, and founder of the Property Industry Group, which supported the sector through the Covid-19 pandemic. He also serves on the boards of key Growthpoint investments, including V&A Waterfront Holdings and Growthpoint Properties Australia.
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The board also announced that Gerald Völkel is retiring as Group Financial Director on March 31, 2026 and will be succeeded by José Snyders as Group CFO and Executive Director. Snyders is the current CEO of Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), a role he assumed following a successful tenure as both Commercial Director and Financial Director of that company.
Marking 22 years at the helm of Growthpoint, Sasse will continue to lead the company for the financial year to June 30, 2026. He will remain in an executive capacity for six months until December 31, 2026 to support a smooth transition. The position of SA CEO will be removed as part of a broader review of the executive leadership operating model.
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