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Kim Reid

Technology entrepreneur

By South African Index Editorial Desk · Published · Updated · Last reviewed

Portrait of Kim Reid.
Portrait: iono.fm · Source · Copyright retained by source publication. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.

Kim Reid founded and led Takealot through its first decade, building the company into a South African e-commerce group before beginning a transition towards the chairmanship in 2021. [1]

Biography

Takealot’s company history identifies Reid as founder and chief executive and describes the group’s origins as a start-up operating from a warehouse in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. Naspers’s 2021 annual report independently identifies him as Takealot’s founder and CEO. [1][2]

During his tenure the group developed businesses in general e-commerce, food delivery and fashion, including Takealot.com, Mr D Food and Superbalist. [1][2]

In February 2021 Takealot announced that Reid would move from group chief executive towards the role of chairman as a successor was sought. The announcement framed the change as the end of the company’s first ten-year operating chapter. [1]

Takealot’s timeline records Reid and Tiger Global acquiring the existing Take2 business in 2010. Takealot.com formally launched in 2011. His founder role concerns the relaunched venture, rather than an unverified claim that he originally founded Take2. [3]

The company announced his planned transition towards the chairmanship on 26 February 2021. An August 2021 announcement identified him as chairman and set an October start for a new group chief executive. These announcements document a historical handover, not a present-day executive appointment. [6][7]

The executive leadership page, reviewed on 18 October 2026, identifies separate group and Takealot.com chief executive posts. It does not identify Reid as the current chief executive. This profile does not extend a 2021 chairman title into a verified current role. [8]

Key contributions

Founded Takealot in its current form and led its first decade of growth. [1]

Built a wider e-commerce group around Takealot.com, Mr D Food and Superbalist. [1]

Reid’s documented operating leadership developed the business alongside external investment and acquisitions. The company’s founder announcement credits his team as well as his leadership. Corporate ownership figures are not presented as his personal financial interest. [6]

Life and career timeline

  1. Began Takealot’s first decade as founder and chief executive. [1]

  2. Announced a transition from group chief executive towards chairman. [1]

  3. Participated with Tiger Global in the Take2 acquisition. [3]

  4. Company announcement identified him as chairman during the executive handover. [7]

Frequently asked questions

Did Kim Reid found the original Take2 business?

That is not established by the sources here. The official timeline identifies him as an acquirer with Tiger Global in 2010. [3]

Is he presented here as current Takealot chief executive?

No. His executive-to-chairman transition is documented in 2021. The current executive page was checked on 18 October 2026. [6][7][8]

Are Naspers’s Takealot shares his personal holding?

No such claim is made. The annual reports describe corporate ownership, not a personal shareholding for Reid. [4][5]

Related institutions and movements

  • Naspers — South African group incorporated in 1915, transformed through internet investment and retaining voting control of separately listed Prosus.
  • Tiger Global Management — New York investment firm and historical financial backer of Takealot, involved in the Take2 acquisition and subsequent funding.

Associated organisations

Related research

Sources

  1. Takealot, Kim Reid to become Takealot Group Chairman, 2021-02-26. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  2. Naspers, Annual Report 2021, 2021-03-31. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  3. Takealot Group, Our Journey: Take2 acquisition, launch, investment and Kalahari merger. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩
  4. Naspers, Integrated Annual Report 2018: etail page 39 and acquisition disclosures page 105. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩
  5. Naspers, Integrated Annual Report 2026: group structure, printed page 39. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩
  6. Takealot Group, Kim Reid to become Takealot Group Chairman, 2021-02-26. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩
  7. Takealot Group, Announcement of Takealot Group CEO: Reid identified as chairman, 2021-08-10. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩
  8. Takealot Group, Our People: current executive leadership. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-18. ↩