South Africa, January 2025 – Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in sustainable fruit production and processing, has announced the appointment of Lylian Kgatla as Head of People & Culture: Africa. In her new role, Kgatla will oversee human resources strategies across the continent, focusing on fostering a positive workplace culture, aligning HR practices with organizational goals, and driving talent development initiatives.
With an extensive career in human resources management spanning over 15 years, Kgatla brings a wealth of expertise in employee relations, change management, and organizational design to her new role. Her recent experience as People and Culture Manager at Westfalia Fruit and her tenure as Human Resources Manager-Executive at Sandvik have equipped her with the skills to lead transformational initiatives across diverse teams and geographies.

Lylian Kgatla began her career in HR with Parker Hannifin as an HR Officer, gaining foundational expertise in human resources management. She later advanced to roles such as Human Resources Manager at Parker Hannifin and Spear System Packaging, where she demonstrated her ability to design and implement HR strategies that drive organizational success.
Her role as Human Capital Manager at AM Invest saw her managing talent acquisition and development for a growing enterprise. At Sandvik, Kgatla served as Human Resources Manager-Executive, where she led critical initiatives in employee engagement, talent management, and compensation strategies over four years. Her most recent role as People and Culture Manager at Westfalia Fruit laid the groundwork for her elevation to Head of People & Culture: Africa, where she will lead efforts to create an inclusive and thriving organizational culture.
About Westfalia Fruit
Westfalia Fruit is a globally recognized leader in the supply of sustainably grown fresh fruit and innovative value-added products. With a vertically integrated supply chain and year-round avocado production, Westfalia serves major retailers worldwide from its offices in regions including Europe, South America, North America, and Africa.
The company’s dedication to innovation has led to the creation of unique products such as avocado oil, frozen avocado, and guacamole, catering to a growing demand for premium fruit-based offerings. Westfalia’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its numerous accreditations, including GlobalGAP, Fairtrade, and BRC, ensuring top-quality products for its customers and consumers.
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