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Brett Kaplan is the managing director of Woolworths Clothing and General Merchandise business.

In his 37th year of Fashion Retailing with Woolworths, Brett joined the company in 1978 as a Management trainee. This training saw him work his way through every aspect of our business operation - until he settled back into the Clothing side of Woolworths, where he has built an illustrious career.

Having grown up in Cape Town in a well-established Jewish business-orientated family, Brett got his love for Fashion and things creative from his mother - Shirley Kaplan - a well-known interior designer and owner of SK Design. From his early years - his commercial instinct was nurtured by his father - a successful Cape Town businessman, and Brett's success and passion for trading was largely influenced by these two individuals.

A keen trader and powerful negotiator, with a deep understanding of the landscape in which we do business, both locally and internationally - Brett is blessed with a unique mix of left/brain and right/brain capability. Equally as comfortable with the hard core financials, as he is with the product - Brett has a strong sense of both the art and science of retail.

Brett has always been in the fashion side of the Woolies business and worked his way up to the top through his flair for fashion mixed with his keen trading instincts. He has over the years, honed his skills through both internal and external professional development, having done numerous commercial and leadership development programmes, the most significant of which was the time he spent at London Business School.

A family man, Brett is married to June - a schoolteacher - and has two daughters, both of whom are studying - one who is doing her masters in Speech Therapy and the second daughter studying to be a chartered accountant.

A fit and active man, Brett is a keen cyclist, enjoys running and keeping fit and active. He also has a keen interest in music and motor cars.