New country manager at the helm of Bata South Africa

Lorraine Dyer, newly appointed country manager at Bata South Africa

With over 20 years of experience in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Dyer is a seasoned expert in launching and growing brands. Her impressive track record includes spearheading the introduction of leading brands into the South African market, such as Calvin Klein, Lipsy of London, Jigsaw and the Cotton On Group.

Dyer’s footwear industry experience includes serving at Converse as general manager, where she was responsible for increasing the brand footprint in sub-Saharan Africa. She later headed up the Chanel brand in South Africa.

She says: “Bata is a well-known, multinational brand with a rich history. I’m excited to play a role in writing the next chapter of our South African success story and advancing with our five-year strategic plan.”

Wyatt added: “Lorraine’s deep understanding of building and managing successful brands throughout their life cycle, coupled with her extensive experience in distribution networks, makes her the perfect fit to steer Bata South Africa forward. We look forward to our continued success under her leadership.”

Part of the Bata Group, one of the world’s leading footwear manufacturers and retailers, Bata South Africa is currently executing a five-year growth plan focused on strengthening its footprint in South Africa while expanding into the broader African market.

Central to this has been the introduction of a number of Bata’s global footwear labels into the South African market, including Bubblegummers children’s footwear, North Star sneakers, Power athletic footwear, the outdoor-inspired Weinbrenner range, and a range of women’s shoes from the Bata Comfit line. These international lines complement brands manufactured locally at Bata’s Loskop, KwaZulu-Natal manufacturing facility, including Toughees school shoes, Bata Industrials safety footwear, Safari for the outdoor adventurer, and the Tomy Takkies line. Bata shoes are sold through major retail chains, wholesale distributors and e-commerce platforms.