End of a 42-year era for Dis-Chem in South Africa
Stanley Goetsch, one of the men who helped turn Dis-Chem into one of South Africa’s largest retailers, has formally submitted his resignation as an Executive Director of the company.
Goetsch has been with the company for 42 years, and Dis-Chem states that he has played a key role in the company’s growth and strategic direction. He will leave his role on 30 June 2026.
The board expressed its appreciation to Goetsch for his unwavering contributions to the business and for helping change South Africa’s retail pharmacy landscape.
The board wished him well in his retirement, with the qualified pharmacist’s resignation joining a host of changes at the group’s executive level.
Dis-Chem founder Ivan Saltzman will also leave his role as an executive director of the company in June 2026. Saltzman will continue to work as a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the group.
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.
Their other sons, Mark and Dan, also received billions in shares in the group in June 2025 following 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 R321 million from January to February of this year, but still hold shares worth billions.
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