ZAMBIA – Carl Irwin, the joint CEO and co-founder of Zambian agribusiness enterprise Zambeef has retired at end of March after building the company into a ‘multi-national conglomerate’ together with other founders.

Carl Irwin is said to have served 23 years of leadership at one of the leading food retailers in Zambia and South Africa.

He has greatly contributed to the growth of the company, the largest vertically integrated food retailing brand in Zambia.

He played a critical role in growing the company, which began in in 1994 as a single butchery.

Zambeef now operates a range of businesses including feedlot services, and manufactures milk, chicken, eggs, operates a fast food restaurant chain and a trucking company, including a fleet of refrigerated trucks.

It owns 195 retail outlets throughout Zambia and West Africa, and has more than 7,000 employees.

The company said that he played a pivotal role in the Zambia and London stock exchange listings and instrumental in driving Zambeef’s investment of more than US$100 million in the last five years, developing Zambeef’s operations into world class operations.

“On behalf of shareholders, employees and the Board, I would like to thank Carl Irwin for his outstanding contribution to Zambeef over the past 23 years.

He, along with Francis Grogan, co-founded the business and it has been through their vision, entrepreneurial drive and leadership that Zambeef has grown to become a market-leading and respected Zambian and Southern African business,” said Zambeef chairman Dr Jacob Mwanza.

Before the appointment, Irwin worked as an articled clerk in the London office of Coopers and Lybrand after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Cape Town.

“I have greatly enjoyed my 23 years with Zambeef and my decision to retire has not been an easy one.

Earlier this year, I notified the board of my wish to spend more time with my family,” said Irwin.

Irwin will be succeeded by Tim Pollock, who joined Zambeef as a Non-Executive Director in September, 2016 and Group Managing as at January 1, 2018 to date.