Historic Wines of the Cape announces new CEO

Historic Wines of the Cape, the managerial company of acclaimed wine brands, La Motte Wine Estate and Leopard’s Leap Wines, is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer - Kobie Lochner.

Lochner, who is currently the Senior Growth and Development Manager at Heineken Beverages International, will join Historic Wines of the Cape on 2 June 2025. He brings with him valuable experience, especially in the fields of leadership, strategic management and organisational development.

He will be succeeding current CEO and dynamic industry leader, Hein Koegelenberg, who will be retiring at the end of 2025 after 26 years of visionary leadership and pioneering efforts to establish a market for SA Wine in the Far East and to position the Cape Winelands as a leading wine tourism destination. The family and directors of the company are deeply grateful for his invaluable contribution and wish him all the best for the future.

Koegelenberg says: “Committed to performance and with a people focused approach, Kobie is the ideal person to lead our wine brands into a next phase of growth within a tough global environment. The team at Historic Wines of the Cape extends him a warm welcome and is looking forward to a new chapter under his leadership.”

To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, Lochner will be working closely with Koegelenberg until the end of 2025.