OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
KWV leads with a dynamic team of industry professionals and experts.
John is a seasoned executive in the broader FMCG across multiple categories. He has 25 years of experience working in commercial, business development and general management roles in South Africa, Africa and the Middle East. Previous liquor experience was with Gilbey’s Distillers and Vintners (Brandhouse), where he occupied several sales and marketing roles domestically and in Sub-Saharan Africa. He then gained several year’s commercial experience in Coca-Cola, across beverage formats, after which he led the Shield division of Massmart for several years. After 5 years starting up and running his own retail and wholesale seafood business, he led several companies in Africa, including Danone Dairy as Africa Expansion Director, Kimberly Clark Consumer as GM for West, East & Central Africa from Nigeria and Red Bull as MD/GM for Africa, from the Middle East. John holds an MBA degree from Bond University.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
John Loomes
Daniël joined KWV’s financial team in 2000 and has served in various capacities since then, being promoted to Financial Executive in 2011.
He qualified as a chartered accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers prior to joining KWV.
DIRECTOR
Finance and Group Services
Daniël Smit
Bernard has over 20 years Business Development Experience in the FMCG industry. He started off his Engineering career building Greenhouses in Africa which then developed into building Micro Breweries and Distilleries in Africa.
He worked in Angola for a few years in executive roles as General Manager and Business Development Director at SABMiller and at Global Biotechnology Company, Novozymes he was part of the team that developed the world’s first cassava beer.
He spent time with Global Filtration Company PALL building his knowledge in the Cider business after which he joined Distell as General Manager South East Africa. Bernard brings a wealth of experience to a well established International team.
EXECUTIVE
International Markets
Bernard van Tonder
Jan is a liquor industry professional and has accumulated 14 years’ experience by occupying various positions across sales, commercial, buying and trade marketing within liquor FMCG and liquor retail.
He started his career after his studies when he joined the South African Breweries (SAB) in 2009 in their field sales division. He eventually departed SAB as a National Group Account Manager in 2017 to join the Shoprite group as National Buyer for Liquor.
Jan joined KWV in November 2018 and took the responsibilities of Customer Marketing, e-Commerce and Direct-to-Consumer for the South-Africa business under his wing. He was promoted to Sales Executive for South Africa in October 2022.
Jan is a BComm Honours graduate of the University of Stellenbosch
EXECUTIVE
Sales South Africa
Jan de Wet
Nuno entered the liquor industry after completing his business degree in 2000.
He was one of the founders of TNB PTY Ltd, a specialist spirits business where he spearheaded the sales and marketing divisions. Under his guidance TNB grew into one of the industry’s fastest growing spirits companies in South Africa and garnered a string of international accolades.
Nuno has been with Vasari Global since their acquisition of TNB in 2013 and following the merger with KWV in 2016, he was appointed Marketing Executive for the Spirits and Liqueurs portfolios.
He is also responsible for driving the business’s innovative capability.
EXECUTIVE
Marketing Spirits & Liquers
Nuno Fernandes
Johan joined KWV in 2005 as Executive of Finance & Commercial.
He has been responsible for New Business Development since 2008 and his current portfolio focuses on Bulk Business development (Spirits and Wine) as well as Special Projects.
EXECUTIVE
Strategic Projects & Bulk
Johan Gericke
Kobus started his career as a Winemaker in the Bertrams Winery at Gilbey`s Distillers & Vintners in the later part of the 1980`s in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch. After furthering his studies in Production and Operations Management he was transferred to the Gilbeys Spirits & Cider factory in Johannesburg where he became the Factory Manager in the mid 90`s.
He then joined SAB Miller at the Appletiser Factory in Grabouw, Western Cape, in 1999 and was Manufacturing Director on the Board for the next 18 years and also served on the Board of Directors of AFP (Associated Fruit Processors) while he was with Appletiser . He joined KWV in 2018, completing a full circle back to wine. Kobus is responsible for all “KWV Operations” which includes primary production of Wine & Spirits, Supply Chain activities and local and international distribution of the products.
Kobus is a passionate supporter of people development and growth and loves to be involved in leadership principle’s and empowerment training of employees.
EXECUTIVE
Operations
Kobus Prins
Ahnel holds B.Comm and B.Comm Honours degree, the latter in Business Management and has a keen interest in Employee engagement, Remuneration practices and Talent development.
Having 14 years Human Resource experience, a wealth of knowledge in the manufacturing industry and a passion for people. Ahnel joined KWV in February 2019 and served in the capacity of HR Business Partner: Operations, until she was promoted to the role of HR Executive in May 2021.
EXECUTIVE
Human Resources
Ahnel Wright
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
KWV leads with a dynamic team of industry professionals and experts.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
John Loomes
John is a seasoned executive in the broader FMCG across multiple categories. He has 25 years of experience working in commercial, business development and general management roles in South Africa, Africa and the Middle East.
Previous liquor experience was with Gilbey’s Distillers and Vintners (Brandhouse), where he occupied several sales and marketing roles domestically and in Sub-Saharan Africa. He then gained several year’s commercial experience in Coca-Cola, across beverage formats, after which he led the Shield division of Massmart for several years.
After 5 years starting up and running his own retail and wholesale seafood business, he led several companies in Africa, including Danone Dairy as Africa Expansion Director, Kimberly Clark Consumer as GM for West, East & Central Africa from Nigeria and Red Bull as MD/GM for Africa, from the Middle East. John holds an MBA degree from Bond University.
DIRECTOR
Finance and Group Services
Daniël Smit
Daniël joined KWV’s financial team in 2000 and has served in various capacities since then, being promoted to Financial Executive in 2011.
He qualified as a chartered accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers prior to joining KWV.
EXECUTIVE
International Markets
Bernard van Tonder
Bernard has over 20 years Business Development Experience in the FMCG industry. He started off his Engineering career building Greenhouses in Africa which then developed into building Micro Breweries and Distilleries in Africa.
He worked in Angola for a few years in executive roles as General Manager and Business Development Director at SABMiller and at Global Biotechnology Company, Novozymes he was part of the team that developed the world’s first cassava beer.
He spent time with Global Filtration Company PALL building his knowledge in the Cider business after which he joined Distell as General Manager South East Africa. Bernard brings a wealth of experience to a well established International team.
EXECUTIVE
Sales South Africa
Jan de Wet
Jan is a liquor industry professional and has accumulated 14 years’ experience by occupying various positions across sales, commercial, buying and trade marketing within liquor FMCG and liquor retail.
He started his career after his studies when he joined the South African Breweries (SAB) in 2009 in their field sales division. He eventually departed SAB as a National Group Account Manager in 2017 to join the Shoprite group as National Buyer for Liquor.
Jan joined KWV in November 2018 and took the responsibilities of Customer Marketing, e-Commerce and Direct-to-Consumer for the South-Africa business under his wing. He was promoted to Sales Executive for South Africa in October 2022.
Jan is a BComm Honours graduate of the University of Stellenbosch
EXECUTIVE
Marketing Spirits & Liquers
Nuno Fernandes
Nuno entered the liquor industry after completing his business degree in 2000.
He was one of the founders of TNB PTY Ltd, a specialist spirits business where he spearheaded the sales and marketing divisions. Under his guidance TNB grew into one of the industry’s fastest growing spirits companies in South Africa and garnered a string of international accolades.
Nuno has been with Vasari Global since their acquisition of TNB in 2013 and following the merger with KWV in 2016, he was appointed Marketing Executive for the Spirits and Liqueurs portfolios.
He is also responsible for driving the business’s innovative capability.
EXECUTIVE
Strategic Projects & Bulk
Johan Gericke
Johan joined KWV in 2005 as Executive of Finance & Commercial.
He has been responsible for New Business Development since 2008 and his current portfolio focuses on Bulk Business development (Spirits and Wine) as well as Special Projects.
EXECUTIVE
Operations
Kobus Prins
Kobus started his career as a Winemaker in the Bertrams Winery at Gilbey`s Distillers & Vintners in the later part of the 1980`s in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch. After furthering his studies in Production and Operations Management he was transferred to the Gilbeys Spirits & Cider factory in Johannesburg where he became the Factory Manager in the mid 90`s.
He then joined SAB Miller at the Appletiser Factory in Grabouw, Western Cape, in 1999 and was Manufacturing Director on the Board for the next 18 years and also served on the Board of Directors of AFP (Associated Fruit Processors) while he was with Appletiser . He joined KWV in 2018, completing a full circle back to wine. Kobus is responsible for all “KWV Operations” which includes primary production of Wine & Spirits, Supply Chain activities and local and international distribution of the products.
Kobus is a passionate supporter of people development and growth and loves to be involved in leadership principle’s and empowerment training of employees.
EXECUTIVE
Human Resources
Ahnel Wright
Ahnel holds B.Comm and B.Comm Honours degree, the latter in Business Management and has a keen interest in Employee engagement, Remuneration practices and Talent development.
Having 14 years Human Resource experience, a wealth of knowledge in the manufacturing industry and a passion for people. Ahnel joined KWV in February 2019 and served in the capacity of HR Business Partner: Operations, until she was promoted to the role of HR Executive in May 2021.