- Former Investec Property Group CEO Sam Hackner died on Saturday.
- The cause of death has not been made public.
- He spent over 40 years in the property industry and was instrumental in building Investec's property business, Investec Private Bank, and growing Growthpoint in its early days.
One of South Africa's sharpest minds, an icon, a dealmaker extraordinaire, a dear friend, a mentor, and so much more. That's how Investec Property Fund described its non-executive chairperson Sam Hackner, who died on Saturday, 7 August.
Hackner's cause of death has not been made public.
Investec Property Fund said in a statement that Hackner endeared himself to "everybody who was fortunate enough to work with him". Hackner was instrumental in the building of the Investec Property Group and Investec Private Bank. He was the joint head of Investec's Global Private Bank alongside Steven Heilbron until 2007.
"His values, passion and clarity of thought became entrenched in the fabric of the business, proving invaluable and contributing to the success and growth of the Fund for over ten years," wrote Investec Property Fund when it announced his passing on Tuesday.
Who was Sam Hackner?
Hackner had over 40 years' experience in the property industry and he spent 38 years running the Investec Property Group.
He stepped down as CEO of Investec Property Group to become the chairperson of Investec's Global Property business in 2015. He was appointed chairperson of the Investec Property Fund when it listed on the JSE in April 2011, with an initial market cap of just R1.7 billion.
Investec Property Fund said as its chairperson, Hackner's contribution to the board and its committees showcased his innate leadership strengths.
"His wisdom, integrity, charisma and decades of property industry expertise have been a key driving force behind the Fund's achievements. Sam will be remembered fondly and sorely missed by all who knew him," wrote Investec Property Fund.
A property industry doyen
But Hackner shared his wisdom on the property industry beyond Investec. He was the chairperson of Growthpoint, the largest property REIT listed on the JSE, from 2003 to 2008.
In a 2017 circular to Investec Property Fund's shareholders, the company detailed how Hackner was instrumental in growing Growthpoint from a market capitalisation of R35 million in 2002 to around R20 billion by 2007 before resigning the property giant's chairman in July 2008.
He was also a director of Argo Property Fund and Argo Real Estate Management until 31 March 2021.
At the time of his death, Hackner was a director of Platinum Hospitality Holdings and the Sunshine Tour, among others. He had also created his own property development and management company and also consulted for various others.
"The Fund and the property industry have lost one of South Africa's sharpest minds, an icon, a dealmaker extraordinaire, a dear friend, a mentor, and so much more," said Investec.
Outside of work, the company said he was "a fanatical family man" and had a huge spirit of generosity.
The Sunshine Tour said he was a passionate golf supporter who contributed immensely to the game in South Africa. Investec sponsored the Investec Cup golf tournament on the Sunshine Tour, and Hackner was an avid player too.
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