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
Kay is an accomplished route-to-market and commercial strategy specialist with extensive global experience in sales, marketing, and general management. With over 35 years’ experience in the alcoholic beverage industry, Kay has a strong record of enhancing efficiency, revenue, and profitability in senior roles across Africa, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Leveraging strategic development, planning, and analytical skills, Kay has led some of the industry’s largest business units, creating substantial shareholder value. Kay has also pioneered key account management in the alcoholic beverage industry as Group General Manager of National Key Accounts at Distell. As a former Distell executive, Kay managed the Cider and RTD division and served as Managing Director of Distell Asia Pacific. After a four-year sabbatical, Kay now leads KWV’s International division as Executive Head International Sales.
EXECUTIVE
International Sales
Kay Pillay
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
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.
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
Sarah Mansfield is a seasoned marketing leader with over 18 years of experience shaping brand strategy and driving growth for globally recognised FMCG brands. Her career includes roles at Kellogg’s and Pernod Ricard, where she managed diverse and complex brand portfolios in highly competitive markets. After five years in the cereal category at Kellogg’s, Sarah spent a decade at Pernod Ricard in senior marketing roles, both locally and internationally, including in Sweden, managing premium spirits brands.
Her leadership in these roles earned multiple esteemed global awards for innovative campaigns that seamlessly blended consumer insights with creative excellence, strengthening brand equity and driving category growth.
Sarah's expertise spans marketing strategy, brand innovation, consumer insights, and leading cross-functional teams across diverse geographies. She has a proven track record of launching successful product innovations, delivering sustained brand growth, and navigating complex market dynamics.
In July 2024, Sarah joined KWV, bringing her passion for building iconic and consumer-centric brands to the wine industry, where she leads the development and execution of KWV’s wine marketing strategy.
EXECUTIVE
Marketing Wine
Sarah Mansfield
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 Sales
Kay Pillay
Kay is an accomplished route-to-market and commercial strategy specialist with extensive global experience in sales, marketing, and general management.
With over 35 years’ experience in the alcoholic beverage industry, Kay has a strong record of enhancing efficiency, revenue, and profitability in senior roles across Africa, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Leveraging strategic development, planning, and analytical skills, Kay has led some of the industry’s largest business units, creating substantial shareholder value.
Kay has also pioneered key account management in the alcoholic beverage industry as Group General Manager of National Key Accounts at Distell. As a former Distell executive, Kay managed the Cider and RTD division and served as Managing Director of Distell Asia Pacific.
After a four-year sabbatical, Kay now leads KWV’s International division as Executive Head International Sales.
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.
EXECUTIVE
Marketing Wine
Sarah Mansfield
Sarah Mansfield is a seasoned marketing leader with over 18 years of experience shaping brand strategy and driving growth for globally recognised FMCG brands. Her career includes roles at Kellogg’s and Pernod Ricard, where she managed diverse and complex brand portfolios in highly competitive markets. After five years in the cereal category at Kellogg’s, Sarah spent a decade at Pernod Ricard in senior marketing roles, both locally and internationally, including in Sweden, managing premium spirits brands.
Her leadership in these roles earned multiple esteemed global awards for innovative campaigns that seamlessly blended consumer insights with creative excellence, strengthening brand equity and driving category growth.
Sarah’s expertise spans marketing strategy, brand innovation, consumer insights, and leading cross-functional teams across diverse geographies. She has a proven track record of launching successful product innovations, delivering sustained brand growth, and navigating complex market dynamics.
In July 2024, Sarah joined KWV, bringing her passion for building iconic and consumer-centric brands to the wine industry, where she leads the development and execution of KWV’s wine marketing strategy.