Zyda Rylands, CEO of Woolworths Food, will retire at the end of August 2024. This announcement was made by Woolworths Holdings Limited in a Sens statement on 14 March 2024.
This announcement follows the statement released by the JSE-listed retailer on 3 August 2021, indicating that Rylands had chosen to retire early but had agreed to remain with the company until August 2024.
Sam Ngumeni, the group’s chief operating officer, will assume the role of Woolworths Food CEO from July 2024.
In the statement, the group said: “Sam is a highly regarded executive with a successful track record across multiple senior roles in the group over the past 28 years.
“The board congratulates Sam on his appointment and looks forward to the contribution he will make to the Foods business,” it continued.
In response to Rylands’s departure, the group applauded her 29 years of dedication to the group.
“The board extends its appreciation to Zyda for her contribution and commitment to the Woolworths Group over the past 29 years and for the significant role she has played in growing and positioning Woolworths Foods as an industry-leading food retailer.”