After a recruitment process of about seven months, Senwes announced on Tuesday 14 January that Debbie Bester has been appointed as the agricultural company’s new CEO.
Senwes announced in a statement on its website on Tuesday afternoon that Debbie Bester (39), the company’s executive manager of finance and business design, will succeed Francois Strydom (64) as CEO. Strydom will retire at the end of March after about 14 years in this position.
“The board of directors unanimously decided to appoint Debbie after a comprehensive independent succession and recruitment process of more than seven months,” said Danie Minnaar, Senwes chairman, in the statement. He also thanked Strydom for the period he served as CEO and for the outstanding growth and success that the group achieved during this period.
Strydom’s career began at the company in 2001. He initially concentrated on the management and closure of certain businesses in the company. He was promoted to chief operating officer in June 2002 before being promoted to chief executive in August 2010.
“We thank Francois for his loyal service over the past 24 years and his valuable contribution to building the Senwes group into the successful business it is today. During this time, Senwes has become one of the largest agricultural companies in South Africa, with operations in seven of the nine provinces, as well as a John Deere agricultural equipment business in Germany,” the statement said.
A native of the Free State, Bester began her career at PwC as a chartered accountant. She was then appointed to the Suidwes Group, where she was promoted to group financial manager. In July 2019, she was appointed chief financial officer.
Following the merger of Suidwes and Senwes in October 2020, she held the position of financial director at Hinterland. In July 2021, she was appointed executive manager of group reporting and corporate finance at Senwes. She acted as chief financial officer for a period, after which she was promoted to executive manager of finance and business design in 2023. In this role, she concentrated on growth transactions and the improvement of business processes for a period of two years and gained valuable experience in understanding the complex business practices of Senwes.
Bester will take up her new position on 1 April and Strydom will be available until 31 July to ensure a smooth transition and handover of leadership.
According to the statement, the board welcomes Bester and wishes her every success with the complex task ahead of her. The board undertakes to support her unequivocally.
Bester makes history by becoming the first woman to serve in this position in the company and the sector.