Summers return to lead Pick n Pay sounds so much like ‘Succession’

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Tue 03 Oct   [Ron Derby] If, like me, you were addicted to the HBO series Succession — which tells the story about just how difficult it is to continue with the legacy of a company after the departure of its legendary chief executive — there’s a similar tale in Sean Summers’ surprise return to Pick n Pay. Summers left the company in 2007 under a bit of a cloud after a 34-year association with the retailer, which grew into national prominence under the leadership of Raymond Ackerman. He was the chosen one. In his absence, Pick n Pay — no longer known for innovation — has had three chief executives, two of them foreign, who oversaw a period in which the grocer lost market share to Shoprite at the bottom end of the market and Woolworths Food at the top end. Can Summers rescue the grocery chain? Whoever said corporate news is boring was wrong, especially when there are family dynamics at play. What does Summers’ return mean for the Ackerman family? Will they remain at the centre or will they, like the Oppenheirmers, step away? It’s an intriguing tale. Look out for more of our coverage later in the week as Sarah Smit takes a closer look at the story of Pick n Pay. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( ADVERTISEMENT [It’s Summers-time again at Pick n Pay, as Boone checks out]( The retailer announced that outgoing Pick n Pay chief executive Pieter Boone would be replaced by Sean Summers, who led the company from 1999 to 2006 [// Read more]( [Senzo Meyiwa trial: Defence says state witness’s evidence is ‘hogwash’]( Defence advocate Zithulele Nxumalo told the Pretoria high court that his client, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, did not know state witness Constable Sizwe Zungu outside of court [// Read more]( [The first deputy secretary general of the SACP Solly Mapaila talks about the ANC and the the SACP's commitment to the alliance.]( [SA Communist Party slams Godongwana’s austerity plans]( The SACP says the finance minister’s proposed spending cuts are an inappropriate response the country’s economic problems [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Pappas calls out ‘desperate’ ANC and its poor polling results]( The Umngeni mayor said the ANC’s behaviour wasn’t surprising, given recent polls placed them in a weakened spot ahead of the general elections [// Read more]( [SA will have a large summer crop of maize]( During El Niño spring rainfall will be above-normal for most of the country and below-normal summer rainfall over the central to western regions and above-normal rainfall in the northeast [// Read more]( [EFF vows to challenge parliamentary cases against its MPs]( Parliament will this month hold hearings against Economic Freedom Fighters accused of disruptive behaviour during President Cyril Ramaphosa's budget vote speech last year [// Read more]( [Rethinking Steve Biko’s black consciousness political philosophy post-liberation]( Leveraging colour as a means of progress can have a paradoxical effect of self-incarceration [// Read more]( [Boks beat Tonga to edge towards World Cup quarters]( The Tongan side stayed competitive throughout the match [// Read more]( [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa