Ross Norton

Commercial Digital Enablement, Pepkor

Ross Norton is a seasoned retail expert with a passion for creating meaningful experiences for customers. With over 20 years of involvement in both formal and informal retail, he brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of customers.

Throughout his career, Ross has excelled in various areas, including strategy, business acquisition, retail and merchandise planning, and fintech. His expertise has led him to successfully acquire businesses and establish new operations in five countries across Eastern and Western Europe. Currently, he is dedicated to building out and driving Pepkor’s focus on the customer through digital channels, primarily through the Pepkor Fintech platform and the +more app.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Ross deeply cares about the growth of individuals and small businesses. He actively mentors startups and engages in Tech Accelerator programs in Cape Town, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He is particularly driven by the desire to make a difference in South Africa, and one of his proudest achievements is the establishment of the CoCare Voucher program. This initiative played a vital role in feeding the underprivileged through Spaza shops during the challenging times of the pandemic.

On a personal level, Ross cherishes his role as a father to two adult daughters. He recently reignited his passion for golf, finding solace in the game now that his daughters have left home. He is also a keen mountain biker and has undertaken a 2,400km ride across the Himalayas in support of the Baphumelele orphanage.

At the upcoming Digital Retail Africa Conference, Ross will bring his extensive retail expertise and unique perspective to the stage and also test how much you read of speaker bio’s as Gemini wrote this and hopefully demonstrates that he doesn’t take himself too seriously.