SAIL Group Limited, South Africa’s leading sports business, today announced the appointment of Selwyn Nathan as Group Chief Executive, with immediate effect.

Nathan, the former head of SAIL’s subsidiary SAIL Sport and Entertainment, takes over the day-to-day running of the business from Nic van Gass, following a restructuring of the group. Van Gass will focus on the strategic growth and corporate finance of the group and has been appointed Executive Director in the Chairman’s office.

Announcing the appointments, Barney Esterhuyzen, Chairman of SAIL Group said:

‘Selwyn is a seasoned sports business entrepreneur of international stature. He has proven himself within SAIL as a strong effective leader and his energy is exactly what SAIL needs right now to run efficiently and deliver to our full potential. This gives me the opportunity to focus on taking the group strategically to the next level, knowing that the business operations are in good hands.’

‘Nic has played a key role in successfully building the group to where it is today. His skills and experience will be invaluable in taking our business to the next level. Nic’s steady hand will support and guide the group through the challenges SAIL will be facing in achieving our strategic growth objectives.’

Commenting on the appointment, Nic van Gass said: ‘SAIL was initially structured as a sports investment company at listing and its way of life was centred around an approach of managing and adding value to investments. The landscape has changed and for SAIL to achieve exceptional growth, it needs to change the rules related to what it does and how it conducts business.

‘Selwyn has been in the business for 28 years – and there are very few people around today who can match his experience in the sports business industry.’

Nathan described the restructuring as an exciting new era that will see SAIL operate as a seamless business, utilising the combined skills and strengths of its people.

‘I am excited about the opportunity, but well aware of the challenges ahead. The rules of engagement internally and externally will have to change. Internally, the structures will be simplified in order to dispose of the unnecessary complexities in the group. These changes will not be cosmetic. I am excited that this new position will enable me to be directly involved in the day-to-day operations of one of the most challenging sports business organisations in the world. I believe that a talented group of individuals is already in place at SAIL and I am especially enthusiastic about the prospect of leading the team.’ Selwyn went on to comment.

Nathan started working life as a golf professional, before turning his hand at structuring, developing and running the original Sunshine Tour. In the 80’s he took on the role of joint Managing Director of Showtime International, the independent company that managed Sun International’s big promotional events. Nathan was tournament co-ordinator for the Million Dollar Golf Challenge for five years before taking up the position of MD of AA Racing. Nathan set up Vodacom Sport and Entertainment in 1997 and has been an integral part of the success story of SAIL Sport & Entertainment’s sponsorship and event management business.

For more information contact:

Cindy Joughin

Tel: +27 11 700 3600
Mobile: 082 4515 773
Email: cindyj@sail.co.za