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Still ‘loving it’ after 25 years
HER FUTURE HUSBAND Denver was also studying at UWC at the time. Today, the couple are proud parents of four sons: Brent (25), Daniel (18), Matthew (14) and Antonio (10). After completing her studies at UWC, De Wet started as a trainee manager at McDonald’s in Cape Town in 1995, the first year of operations in South Africa of the iconic company.
Originally from Heidelberg, De Wet grew up in Kensington in Cape Town and was initially reluctant to relocate. But, as the number of franchises rapidly grew, she accepted the inevitable move to Johannesburg where her career has flourished.
“In 1997, I set my sights on becoming the first female local director of operations for McDonald’s South Africa,” says De Wet.
“Over the years, I expanded my operational experience and exposure across different departments within the company.
I completed numerous operations and leadership qualifi cations at the McDonald’s Hamburger University,” she says. With the company off ering many opportunities for growth and the encouragement of a very supportive family, she became skilled in most aspects of the fast-food industry, including budgeting, business planning, operations management and coaching. She was part of the team that initiated the addition of the profi table breakfast menu in 2002 and later also part of the team that scaled the McDelivery off ering within the business locally in 2015. In 2008, she was appointed as the director of operations and thereafter became chief operations offi cer at McDonald’s South Africa, her current role, where she oversees all support functions, including franchising, delivery, and health and safety.
As a still-rare woman in corporate leadership in the industry, she has been recognised with several awards, including the Global Circle of Excellence award for the Asia Pacifi c Middle East Africa Women’s Leadership Network in 2009 and the Global Women’s Leadership Network award in 2016.
De Wet believes a leader should empower others and must have the ability to lead and inspire a diverse workforce in a dynamic working environment. She advocates for the realisation of the human rights of all the people within a business and overtly champions gender empowerment, consistently taking positive measures to ensure the realisation of gender equity and equality. De Wet was instrumental in developing the McDonald’s Global Gender Balance and Diversity Strategy in 2019.
“I currently serve on the McDonald’s Global Women’s Network Advisory Board, where we aim to improve the representation of women at all levels of McDonald’s, achieve gender equality in career advancement, and champion the impact of women on the business,” she says.
Jo-Ann and Denver are enthusiastic about giving back and support organisations such as the National Sea Rescue Institute, Action Aid and Kairos Secondary School in Heidelberg.
“I am at a point in my life where I enjoy giving back,” she says. “I serve on the board of the Ronald McDonald House of Charities, which has supported the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, among others.”
Away from the offi ce, De Wet says, “I enjoy spending time with both my immediate and extended family. We all love travelling, both locally and internationally, and we have an appreciation for diverse cultures. We enjoy the outdoors, whether in the bush or at the ocean, and we are a diehard Liverpool soccer club family.
“I have been blessed as Denver has always been a supportive husband. He has always served as the wind beneath my wings,” she says.
Of her time at UWC, De Wet says faculty staff , especially the Dean and his administrative assistant, Eileen, were always available and encouraging.
She says, “Over the years, I have developed an appreciation for having completed a university degree. Many of the principles I was taught at university have been applied professionally and that contributed to my success.”
