CEO Today Africa Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 56 CEO Today Africa Awards 2018 SOUTH AFRICA DAVID KNEALE CEO of Clicks Group ABOUT DAVID KNEALE David was appointed chief executive officer of Clicks Group in January 2006. He was previously chief commercial officer of health and beauty retailer, Boots Group plc, in the United Kingdom. During his career at Boots David held positions in finance, buying and marketing before being appointed director of merchandise and marketing in 1995, and managing director of international retail development in 1997. After three years as managing director of Waterstone’s Booksellers and a director of HMV Group, he returned to Boots in 2002 as director of trading, and was appointed chief commercial officer in January 2003. FIRM PROFILE Clicks Group is a retail-led healthcare group which is listed in the Food and Drug Retailers sector on the JSE. Clicks was conceived as a drugstore in 1968 but legislation at the time prevented corporate ownership of pharmacies in South Africa. This meant that Clicks operated as a drugstore without drugs until legislation was changed in 2003 to allow corporate pharmacy ownership, and the first Clicks pharmacy opened in 2004. United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) was acquired by the group in January 2003 to provide the distribution capability for the group’s healthcare strategy. Over the past decade the group has grown into a leader in the healthcare market where Clicks has an 23% share of the retail pharmacy market and UPD a 25.9% share of the private pharmaceutical wholesale market. Our Values • We are truly passionate about our customers • We believe in integrity, honesty and openness • We cultivate understanding through respect and dialogue • We are disciplined in our approach • We deliver on our goals Customers Clicks targets consumers in the growing middle to upper income markets (LSM 6 – 10). The Clicks ClubCard is one of the largest loyalty programmes in South Africa with over 7.5 million active members. 77% of ClubCard customers are women and 62% are in the 25 to 49 age group. UPD fulfils the pharmaceutical supply needs of Clicks, major private hospital groups and over 1 200 independent pharmacies. UPD also provides bulk distribution services to pharmaceutical manufacturers. GROUP BRANDS Clicks, Musica, The Body Shop, GNC and Claire’s are market-leading brands and have a combined footprint of over 824 stores, including 38 in the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho. • Clicks is South Africa’s leading health and beauty retailer, offering value for money in convenient and appealing locations. Clicks has the largest retail pharmacy chain with over 500 in store pharmacies. • The Body Shop sells natural, ethically produced beauty products and has been operated under a franchise agreement with The Body Shop International since 2001. • GNC is the largest global specialty health and wellness retailer, and has been operated under an exclusive franchise agreement for southern Africa since 2014. • Claire’s is one of the world’s leading specialty retailers of fashionable jewellery and accessories for young women and girls, and has been operated under an exclusive franchise agreement for southern Africa since 2015. • Musica is the country’s leading entertainment retail brand and was acquired in 1992. • UPD is South Africa’s leading full-range pharmaceutical wholesaler and the only one with a national presence. www.clicksgroup.co.za