Business

The changing of the guard

Kalahari.net`s Hein Pretorius brings a breath of fresh air to Naspers` tradition.

30 July 2002

Naspers is known for its array of charismatic individuals, and Hein Pretorius, manager of Kalahari.net and Naspers Clubs, is no exception, filling a room with presence. One senses immediately that this heavy-set man was born to be a professional manager. After two years leading the online retailer Kalahari.net, his success in the difficult e-commerce market proves his skill.

Pretorius joined Naspers specifically to start Kalahari.net; leaving Oracle, where he was e-business solutions manager, to take on the new mantle of e-commerce entrepreneur. Currently the company is on track for profit in March 2004 – in line with its initial business plan. Naspers seems happy to absorb the loss in the meantime, but Pretorius comments: “There is pressure from the investors – there`s always pressure to break even sooner and sooner. We have a sound business plan, and we have hit our targets each year. We can`t compare it to In The Bag [Woolworths` doomed e-commerce venture]. We are on a shoestring budget compared to those guys. Our investment has been very conservative.”

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