Pick n Pay has confirmed the retirement of its Chief Financial Officer, Lerena Olivier, following the conclusion of the retailer’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 6 August.
Olivier’s retirement was initially announced by the group at the end of 2025, with Tina Rookledge identified as her successor.
The Pick n Pay board thanked Olivier for her contribution to the company and the wider Pick n Pay Group during her tenure and wished her well in her future endeavours.
Olivier was appointed CFO in September 2019, taking over from Bakar Jakoet, who had served as the retailer’s finance chief for 34 years.
Before becoming CFO, Olivier headed Pick n Pay’s Group Financial Reporting division from 2011. Her departure brings an end to 15 years with the retailer.
She previously spent a decade at rival retailer Shoprite, where she served as group financial accountant from 2001 to 2011. She began her career at PwC as an audit manager, a position she held between 1998 and 2001.
Olivier’s tenure as CFO coincided with a challenging period for Pick n Pay, including major changes to the company’s leadership and ownership structure as the Ackerman family stepped away from its controlling role.
She also worked under several chief executives, including Richard Brasher, Pieter Boone and current CEO Sean Summers.
Together with Summers, Olivier was tasked with helping stabilise the retailer following a period of underperformance and strategic difficulties.
The turnaround strategy has since begun showing signs of progress, with Pick n Pay narrowing its losses, restructuring parts of the business and working to align its operations with changing market conditions.
Olivier leaves the company as it continues its recovery efforts, with Rookledge taking over the financial leadership role.
Rookledge officially became CFO on 6 August after joining the group on 1 February 2026 as part of Pick n Pay’s planned leadership succession process.
She is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and brings extensive financial, operational and leadership experience from large listed and multinational organisations.
Pick n Pay said the board was confident that Rookledge’s experience would support the continued implementation of the group’s strategic priorities, as well as its turnaround and long-term growth plans.
“The board is confident that Ms Rookledge’s experience and leadership will support the continued execution of the group’s strategic priorities and the ongoing turnaround and long-term growth of the business,” Pick n Pay said.