Johannesburg - Property developer and investor Jeff Zidel has been appointed president of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC).
He is the co-founder of Resilient and has been involved in all aspects of the property industry for over 45 years. He is the deputy chair of the JSE-listed Fortress Income Fund and non-executive director of New European Property Investment PLC.
Zidel is also a director of the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa), three-times past president of the Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce and the winner of the 2010 Absa Jewish Achiever Award for Listed Companies.
Commenting on his appointment, Amanda Stops, CEO of SACSC, said Zidel’s unique insight and experience, both in South African and international markets, combined with his passion for mentorship and his commitment to advancing our sector, will all help to further the SACSC mandate.
SACSC is the official umbrella body of all involved shopping centres, including: owners, developers, managing agents, brokers, professionals, retailers, marketers, service providers, financers and researchers. It was officially launched in 1991 to advance the retail and retail property sectors of South Africa.
As President of SACSC, Zidel intends to build on the foundations already in place and find new ways to expand horizons for South Africa’s community of shopping centre owners and retailers.
“South Africa has one of the world’s leading shopping centre industries. There is a powerful opportunity to capitalise on our growing international profile as we become more active in the arena of global retail,” said Zidel. “It’s important to showcase the exceptional calibre of our capabilities and make it clear that we are worth taking seriously – both South Africa and Africa as a continent, and our skilled professionals.”
Leadership will take centre stage at the 20th SACSC congress taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 7 to 9 2016. Hosted by SACSC and sponsored by Property Finance at Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, the retail sector's annual flagship event will feature the latest insights on leading trends, technology and customer engagement.
It is also a meeting place for industry leaders, current and future, as well as leading retailers and brands.