Pick n Pay’s next CEO comes from Woolworths

P n P

Cape Town – Pick n Pay has appointed Woolworths Chief Customer Officer Spencer Sonn as its CEO-designate, setting in motion a planned leadership transition at the retailer.

According to BusinessTech, Sonn will join Pick n Pay as CEO-designate in February 2027 and work alongside current chief executive Sean Summers during the transition. Summers’ contract runs until May 2028, when Sonn is expected to succeed him.

Pick n Pay said the extended handover was intended to ensure continuity as the group implements its turnaround strategy.

“Spencer will work closely with current Chief Executive Officer, Sean Summers, as part of a planned and orderly leadership transition that will support continuity and the continued execution of the Group’s strategy,” the retailer said.

Sonn brings extensive grocery retail experience to the role. Bizcommunity reported that he spent 26 years at Woolworths South Africa, including five years as managing director of its Food Division. He is currently Woolworths’ chief customer officer, a position he has held since April 2025.

Pick n Pay described Sonn as an experienced retail leader, with Daily Investor reporting that the company highlighted his experience across franchise and corporate stores as well as his international retail exposure in New Zealand.

“This is an exciting challenge for me after working across every part of grocery retailing,” Sonn said, according to Bizcommunity. He added that he was looking forward to working closely with Summers and contributing to Pick n Pay’s turnaround.

Summers returned to Pick n Pay in September 2023 after previously serving as the retailer’s CEO from 1999 to 2006. His return came as the group embarked on a major turnaround following years of financial and operational difficulties.

Pick n Pay’s latest financial results show that the turnaround remains a work in progress. The group reported a R1 billion trading loss in its Pick n Pay segment for FY26, although company-owned supermarkets recorded 3.9% like-for-like sales growth and the group’s online business grew 32.7%.

The leadership change comes as Pick n Pay continues efforts to restore profitability, improve its supermarket operations and strengthen its competitive position in South Africa’s highly contested grocery retail market.

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