SPAR chair and deputy chair resign amid instability

The leadership of South Africa’s retail group SPAR entered a new phase of transition on Monday, August 17, 2026, with the immediate resignations of its chairman, Mike Bosman, and deputy chairperson, Dr. Shirley Zinn. The departures mark the latest in a series of executive exits for the company and deepen a period of instability that began with the resignation of former CEO Angelo Swartz earlier this year.

In a statement to shareholders, SPAR indicated the resignations followed the "context of the period that both these directors and the Board have recently experienced." The board said it maintained full support for both leaders but accepted that stepping down was the "right decision for them and in the best interests of the company." Lwazi Koyana, an independent non-executive director and chair of the risk committee, has been appointed interim chair with immediate effect.

Bosman, who became chairman in December 2022, had previously served as executive chairman to provide continuity following the retirement of former CEO Brett Botten in January 2023. The group acknowledged his role in strengthening governance and operational continuity during a time of "exceptional difficulty."...