Spear REIT Limited, a leading real estate investment trust with a dedicated focus on the Western Cape, has announced the appointment of Joan Solms to its board.

Solms, a distinguished professional in the property industry, the trust as an independent non-executive director and member of the audit and risk committee, effective from the beginning of this month.

Solms brings significant experience in banking and financial services, particularly within the property sector.

She is a qualified chartered accountant with over two decades of expertise in property and investment banking, having held several high-profile leadership roles; most recently serving as executive vice president of Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking division, where she led the Western Cape real estate finance division until November last year.

Before that, Solms served as executive director and chief operating officer of Ingenuity Property Investments Limited, a JSE-listed property investment company.

Recognised for her exceptional contributions to the South African property industry, she was named Women’s Property Network’s Professional of the Year in the private sector in 2017.

Commenting on the appointment, Quintin Rossi, CEO of Spear REIT, said they were honoured to welcome Solms to the Spear board.

“She is a highly respected expert in her field, and her vast experience in the Western Cape property market - particularly in financial services and banking - will add significant value to our team.

"This appointment comes at a crucial time in Spear’s growth trajectory, and we are excited to have someone of Joan’s calibre join us on this journey,” Rossi said.

Solms reflected on her appointment as a full-circle moment, recalling one of her earliest major banking transactions where she assisted the founders of Spear with their initial funding.

“It’s remarkable to see how far Spear has come since those early days. I fondly remember my time at Nedbank in 2011 when I facilitated their initial funding, long before their JSE listing in 2016.

"Spear’s ethos and commitment to fostering a culture of goodwill, particularly in developing and empowering women in the property sector, resonate deeply with me. I am looking forward to contributing to the company’s continued success,” Solms said.

Solms’ appointment highlights Spear’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a Board of Directors that are dynamic and experienced professionals with top-tier industry expertise as it continues to expand its presence in the Western Cape real estate market.

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Joan Solms joins Spear REIT board to drive Western Cape property growth