CAPE TOWN – Strauss & Co announces the appointment of Khetiwe McClain and Jo-Ann Strauss to the company’s board of directors. Their appointment is effective immediately. Khetiwe McClain, a mining entrepreneur with an international background in art, joins the company as Client Advisory Executive. Jo-Ann Strauss, a media entrepreneur and international speaker, will serve as a Non-Executive Director.
“We are delighted that Khetiwe McClain and Jo-Ann Strauss, two formidable businesswomen with outstanding professional credentials, have agreed to join our leadership team,” says Frank Kilbourn, Chairperson, Strauss & Co. “We took our time to find people who subscribe to our vision and values as a company. Khetiwe and Jo-Ann are incredibly appropriate in their individual capacities and will bolster our women-led executive and management team. Their energy and drive, coupled with their proven competence and internationalism, will be invaluable as we transform and expand our business. We are thrilled to have them on board.”
“Joining Strauss & Co is a convergence of passion and purpose,” says Khetiwe McClain. “With a background in fine art, and entrepreneurship and having a seat in various boardrooms, I have over the years curated an intricate tapestry of experience. As an art lover who once painted and as an entrepreneur, I am committed to expanding the beauty and complexity of art to different audiences and nurturing the devotion of the already captivated. In my new role, I aim to create new relationships and forge visionary partnerships in the art space.”
“Being part of Strauss & Co is an honour and an exceptional opportunity to be in the company of others who value art as much as I do,” says Jo-Ann Strauss. “Artists have made an invaluable contribution to South Africa’s history and that of the African continent. I am especially passionate about entrepreneurship and creating an environment that helps South Africans grow their own businesses locally and abroad. I look forward to deepening my knowledge of the industry and serving on the board of such a dynamic company.”
Khetiwe McClain and Jo-Ann Strauss succeed Elizabeth Bradley and Conrad Strauss, founding directors of Strauss & Co who played vital roles in the emergence of the company as Africa’s leading auction house. (Jo-Ann Strauss and Conrad Strauss, while sharing a family name, are not related.)
“Elizabeth Bradley and Conrad Strauss are accomplished business people who, graciously and with great commitment, provided support and leadership that enabled Strauss & Co to thrive,” says Frank Kilbourn. “I want to personally thank Elizabeth and Conrad for their many years of service. They did incredible work in laying a solid foundation on which others have been able to build, and will continue to build.”
