Beck Family Estates, producers of acclaimed Cap Classique house Graham Beck and Steenberg Vineyards, South Africa’s oldest registered farm, has appointed Helen Kock as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November 2025.
The appointment comes at a time when women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles across both the global economy and the South African wine industry. According to Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2025 report, women hold just 34% of senior leadership positions in mid-market companies globally, and, at current rates of progress, gender parity is not expected before 2051.
Across South Africa’s wine sector, similar disparities persist. Although graduate-output reports from Stellenbosch University and Elsenburg show that women now represent more than half of new entrants into winemaking and viticulture programmes, industry leadership reviews and workforce studies conducted by bodies such as Vinpro, Winetech and WineLand Magazine indicate that only around 10–15% of wineries are led by women in top strategic roles, with less than 15% of cellarmasters and head winemakers being female. These same studies show that executive teams at major producers remain predominantly male, with 70–80% of leadership positions held by men.
Chairman Antony Beck says the appointment signals both continuity and a decisive shift. “Helen embodies the values we hold dear: passion, excellence and long-term vision. Her leadership will honour our heritage while positioning Beck Family Estates for a future defined by innovation, collaboration and renewed global relevance. We are proud to welcome her into this role at such a formative moment for the industry.”
The appointment also carries symbolic resonance for the company’s heritage. Steenberg, one of Beck Family Estates’ flagship properties, was founded in 1682 by Catharina Ras, the first recorded female landowner at the Cape and the pioneer behind South Africa’s first registered farm. More than three centuries later, the company’s leadership returns to female hands, marking a meaningful full-circle moment in its history.
Kock brings more than two decades of commercial, strategic and distribution experience in the South African wine industry, including senior positions at Beck Family Estates, and, most recently, serving as Brand Portfolio Director at Vinimark. Her appointment reflects a growing recognition across the sector that diverse leadership strengthens performance, deepens consumer connection and strengthens long-term resilience, an insight underscored by the Grant Thornton report, which highlights that organisations with gender-balanced leadership teams consistently demonstrate stronger innovation capacity and improved decision-making.
Speaking about her new role, Kock said: “I see this role as an opportunity to build on the work of those who have strengthened South African wine at every level of the value chain. Our industry has extraordinary talent and potential. My focus is on bringing people together around a clear purpose, to grow our brands in a commercially strong way, authentically South African and sustainable for the long term.”
Her appointment comes as the sector navigates ongoing structural pressures, intensified global competition, shifting consumer expectations and the need for stronger international positioning. While the talent pipeline is increasingly diverse, the conversion into senior roles remains slow, a gap that underscores the significance of appointments such as Kock’s in accelerating meaningful progress across the value chain.
As CEO, Kock will oversee the company’s full South African and international portfolio, including Graham Beck, Steenberg Vineyards and Allure, with a mandate to strengthen global brand equity, deepen sustainability commitments and enhance destination-led tourism and hospitality experiences. Her leadership aims to ensure that South African wine continues to gain recognition in premium markets for the quality, provenance and craftsmanship that define the country’s best producers.
“South African wine has never had more potential,” she added. “If we combine quality with clear storytelling, responsible leadership and a more inclusive industry, we will build brands and businesses that endure for generations.”