After nearly twenty years at the helm, Saul Saltzman has announced he will step down as Executive Director of Dis-Chem Pharmacies in February 2026. The move is part of a broader shift within the Saltzman family business, marking a new chapter for one of South Africa’s most prominent retail dynasties.
Dis-Chem, founded in 1978 by Ivan and Lynette Saltzman, has grown from a single pharmacy into a powerhouse with over 300 stores and valued at about $1.4 billion. Under Saul’s leadership the chain expanded rapidly, building both national recognition and financial strength.
As part of this transition Saul will leave his executive role but remain involved on the board as a non-independent non-executive director. Meanwhile the family is reorganising ownership: the next generation, including Saul’s siblings Dan and Mark, are assuming more prominent equity stakes. Ownership previously held through family investment vehicle Ivlyn has been redistributed among them. This follows earlier moves by the Saltzman family to reduce centralised control and prepare for generational handover.
This isn’t the first leadership change in the company. The founders have gradually stepped back from executive day-to-day control: Ivan Saltzman stepped down as CEO earlier, Lynette also exited the board. These changes suggest a deliberate strategy to professionalise governance while preserving the family’s long term vision.
What comes next for Dis-Chem is both opportunity and challenge. With leadership shifting and ownership evolving, the company will need to maintain momentum, sustain its brand in health and beauty retail, and adapt to competitive pressures. But analysts see this as a natural evolution for a successful family-run business moving into its next phase.