WinField United South Africa (WUSA) and InteliGro jointly announced that Gideon Hefer, the managing director of InteliGro, has decided to step down from his position, effective Monday, 1 April 2024.
Hefer, a qualified chartered accountant from the University of Johannesburg, has been a stalwart in the agricultural sector. Joining Terason in 2001, he played a pivotal role in establishing InteliChem in 2012 and contributed significantly to the merger of Terason and TechniChem, leading to the formation of InteliGro in 2016.
His leadership was further solidified when he became the chief executive of InteliChem in 2017 and, subsequently, joined the WUSA executive management team as managing director: retail in 2021.
Known for his dedication to building a sustainable agricultural sector in South Africa, Hefer has not only been an integral part of the WUSA companies but has also served on the executive committee of CropLife SA, focusing on advancing the role of trained and responsible crop advisors as trusted business partners to growers.
Cultivating success in a new season
Jan Vermaak, chief executive of WUSA, confirmed that Hefer will remain within the WUSA Group, taking on a different role to support strategic initiatives. In the immediate future, Hefer plans to prioritise his family life and contribute to organisations focused on upliftment and feeding programmes, causes that are close to his heart.
Reflecting on his journey, Hefer stated, “It is with some melancholy, but also elatedness that I enter a new season in my life. It has been my privilege to be part of an exceptional team that really makes a difference on the farm.
“The InteliGro team surpasses just mere business – it entails camaraderie, trusted relationships, genuinely caring and supporting team members, growers, and suppliers to reach our common goal – to keep the grower, and the agricultural sector, sustainable and successful.”
Vermaak expressed his appreciation for Hefer’s leadership in building a leading business, his contribution as a WUSA executive in supporting the merger, and his positive impact on the agriculture sector. He added, “We look forward to Gideon’s continued contribution to our future success. During the transition, the current InteliGro leadership team will operate as usual.”
With a team of certified crop advisors, experienced technical specialists, and top-quality suppliers, InteliGro focuses on future food safety and security. WUSA provides holistic agricultural solutions, offering experienced crop adviser teams, technical support specialists, research and innovation facilities, complete crop protection portfolios, and national distribution. Formed from the 2021 merger of Villa Crop Protection and InteliChem Group, WUSA is a key player in the global and local agricultural landscape.
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