Pick n Pay has named retail executive Spencer Sonn as its next CEO-designate, with Sonn set to join the retailer in February 2027 and work alongside current CEO Sean Summers during the leadership transition.
The appointment forms part of the company’s succession planning and comes as Pick n Pay continues its turnaround under Summers.
Sonn joins Pick n Pay following a 26-year career at Woolworths South Africa, including five years as managing director of its Food Division.
His background spans grocery and fresh food retail, with experience across both operational and executive leadership roles. Pick n Pay says his retail experience will add further grocery expertise to its leadership team as the business continues its turnaround.
“Throughout our engagements, Spencer has expressed enormous admiration for the values and founding principles that Pick n Pay was built on,” says Summers.
“This is an exciting challenge for me after working across every part of grocery retailing,” says Sonn. “I am looking forward to working closely with Sean.”
Sonn brings international experience from New Zealand, where he worked across challenging retail conditions in a market that included both franchise and corporate stores and a workforce of around 22,000 employees.
