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Michael Jordaan to be new chairman of Wines of South Africa

Published:  09 May, 2014

Wines of South Africa has appointed Michael Jordaan, former chief executive of the country's First National Bank, as its new chairman.

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Wines of South Africa has appointed Michael Jordaan, former chief executive of the country's First National Bank, as its new chairman.

Jordaan, who WOSA describes as "one of South Africa's most visionary and progressive business leaders" succeeds Johann Krige, chief executive of the Kanonkop winery, in the role.  He was once named CNBC's Africa Business Leader of the Year for Southern Africa.

Jordaan also bring wine knowledge to the role as he has his wife, Rose, run a 40 hectare boutique wine business, focused around environmental winemaking, called Bartinney, on the Helshoogte Pass outside Stellenbosch.

He is well placed to pick up WOSA's strong credentials around sustainability as he has been awarded Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) champion status for the rehabilitation of his land to its indigenous habitat. Jordan and his wife also run a wine and champagne bar in Stellenbosch.

Jordaan remains closely involved in business start-ups and venture capitalist opportunities and is also chairman of Mxit a mobile messaging company in the health industry. 

Krige, who is leaving his role after five years, said of Jordaan's appointment: "South African wine exporters can only be enriched by exposure to Michael. Here is someone who is arguably South Africa's leading banker and who could be working at the most senior level in business anywhere in the world but has chosen to remain in this country, contributing his strategic, marketing and media skills with an unusual combination of imaginative flair and rigorous analysis.

"WOSA can benefit substantially from his entrepreneurial passion, while his strategic, disruptive business philosophy could well unlock the true value of South African wines internationally.

"His creative thinking and capacity to see opportunity could not come at a better time as the country seeks to broaden its reach and establish itself in new markets."

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