Stanley Goetsch, who helped turn Dis-Chem into one of South Africa’s largest retailers, has formally resigned as as Executive Director of the company and will leave his role on 30 June this year, reports Business Tech.
With the departure of Goetsch – who been with the company for 42 years, and Ivan Saltzman, also in June this year – the exit of the fabled Dis-Chem founders is virtually complete.
Only Saltzman remains, but in a less prominent role as a non-executive director and Deputy Chairman of the group.
The Board said Goetsch had played a key role in the company’s growth and strategic direction, and helped change the country’s retail pharmacy landscape.
The qualified pharmacist’s resignation joins a host of changes at the group’s executive level.
Saltzman left his role as Group CEO in 2023, when he was succeeded by Rui Morais, formerly the company’s CFO.
Saltzman, with support from Goetsch, was able to turn Dis-Chem from its early beginnings as a family-owned business into a JSE-listed retail giant.
Ivan’s wife and fellow co-founder, Lynette, had already stepped down from her role as an Executive Director in 2022 to focus on an operational role within the group’s beauty category.
Their son, Saul, also recently resigned as an Executive Director of the group, which took effect in February, while their other sons, Mark and Dan, also received billions in shares in the group in June 2025 after a change in the company’s holding structure.
The family’s investment vehicle, Ivlyn, previously held a 29% stake in the company. With each brother receiving a 12.5% share in the company, Ivlyn’s interest decreased to roughly 4%.
Mark and Dan each sold shares worth roughly R321m from January to February of this year, but still hold shares worth billions.
Business Tech article – End of a 42-year era for Dis-Chem in South Africa (Open access)
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