The people behind the performance.

Dawie du Toit is originally from Bloemfontein in the Free State, where he completed his education and began his career in the liquor industry with NuCed Distributors. He later moved to Dairybelle before joining The Cold Chain in Klerksdorp, where his 15-year career with Imperial began, building extensive experience across distribution, warehousing and sales.

During his tenure at Imperial, one of his key achievements was taking full responsibility for Mercor Solutions, Imperial's sales and merchandising division. Mercor Solutions later combined with VMS to form Imperial Retail Solutions, where Dawie served as Operations Director. At the beginning of 2018 he left Imperial and started a business that his wife took over when he joined Meridian in 2019.

Dawie initially joined Meridian's CMR division before moving to head office a few months later as Client Services and Business Intelligence Executive. Four years later he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and in April 2026 he was appointed Managing Director of Meridian Group.

Dawie is passionate about the people of Meridian and the clients the business serves. He believes in leading by example and spending as much time as possible in trade with the teams. He still enjoys being hands-on, whether packing stock out himself or ensuring that Meridian creates the best possible opportunity for brands to reach consumers' baskets.

On a personal note, Dawie is married to Charlene du Toit. They enjoy outdoor activities, sport, and the occasional 4x4 adventure to remote areas of the country.

Karen Hammond is an award-winning People Executive with over 25 years of Human Resources experience and more than 20 years in senior leadership roles. As Group Head of People at Meridian Group, she partners with executive teams to build high-performing cultures that drive business success through people.

Having held leadership positions across renowned organisations including Meridian Group, Sun International, Dimension Data, Nedbank, PwC, PepsiCo and the ICC Durban, Karen brings extensive experience spanning financial and banking services, technology, professional services, consumer goods and manufacturing, hospitality and gaming.

Known for her people-first leadership approach, Karen has successfully led organisational transformation, talent development, culture change, employee experience and digital HR initiatives. She is passionate about leveraging innovation and AI to modernise people practices, enhance employee experiences, and create future-ready workplaces where both people and businesses can thrive.

Recognised as one of KwaZulu-Natal's Top Business Women in 2025, Karen is driven by a simple belief: when organisations put people first, exceptional results follow.

People are at the heart of every great organisation. When we combine human potential with innovation, extraordinary things happen.

Jaco Jooste is Head of Dedicated Solutions at Meridian Group, with over 17 years of retail and operational leadership experience.

Having progressed from frontline sales into national leadership, he now leads Meridian's dedicated client solutions, driving operational excellence, client growth, technology adoption and consistent execution across South Africa. He is passionate about people and developing high-performing teams.

Louis Janse van Rensburg serves as National Head of Syndicated Solutions at Meridian Group, bringing extensive experience across the FMCG, sales and retail execution sectors. Throughout his career he has developed deep industry expertise, building a strong foundation in commercial strategy and trade performance.

Working closely with clients, manufacturers and retailers, Louis has consistently focused on bridging the gap between brand objectives and in-store execution. His career is defined by a collaborative approach to driving growth and optimising retail operations in dynamic, competitive markets.

In his role as National Head of Syndicated Solutions, Louis works at the intersection of client ambition and trade reality. He is responsible for developing and implementing innovative, tailored solutions that enhance in-store performance, strengthen long-term customer partnerships and drive sustainable business growth across the retail landscape.

Louis is passionate about creating tangible value for the brands Meridian represents. He believes in a strategic, results-orientated approach that balances forward-thinking innovation with pragmatic execution, ensuring that every solution delivers measurable impact in trade.

Victor Botha is an accomplished leader in the FMCG industry with over 30 years of experience driving growth, building client partnerships and leading large-scale teams. As General Manager of Meridian Group's Coastal Division, he oversees operations across the region, including the Woolworths Division and a workforce of more than 2,100 employees.

Recognised for a results-driven approach and inspirational leadership, he has earned multiple industry awards and is celebrated for his ability to deliver profitability, develop people and strengthen client relationships. His proven track record and passion for operational excellence continue to make him a key driver of Meridian Group's success.

Ferdie Senekal is a senior business executive with more than 30 years of experience leading sales, operations and commercial teams across South Africa's FMCG, logistics and retail sectors. As General Manager Inland at Meridian Group, he is responsible for driving strategic growth, operational excellence, profitability and customer success.

Recognised for building high-performing teams and long-term client partnerships, Ferdie has led large-scale operations, national sales initiatives and business transformation projects throughout his career. His leadership philosophy is centred on sustainable growth through operational discipline, customer focus, innovation and people development.

Jan Verster is the General Manager for the Free State, Northwest, and Northern Cape regions at Meridian Group. With extensive operational and leadership experience, he has built a strong reputation for delivering sustainable business performance through disciplined execution, effective cost management, and the development of high-performing teams.

Throughout his career, Jan has demonstrated a practical, hands-on leadership style, consistently driving operational excellence while aligning people, processes, and strategy to achieve business objectives. His expertise spans operational efficiencies, cost control, fleet management, route optimisation, and profitability improvement, enabling him to deliver measurable results in complex operating environments.

Jan is passionate about building capable teams and creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. He believes that placing the right people in the right roles is fundamental to achieving long-term success and sustainable growth.

In his role at Meridian Group, Jan is focused on strengthening regional operations, enhancing customer service, and supporting the company's continued growth across the Free State, Northwest, and Northern Cape.

Outside of work, Jan enjoys spending quality time with his family, cooking, hosting traditional South African braais, following rugby, and exploring the outdoors. His approachable nature and balanced leadership style have earned him the respect of colleagues, customers, and business partners alike.