Leadership

Lew Geffen

Chairman

Lew Geffen, often referred to as “ the maverick” in various circles, is a well-known figure in the real estate industry, particularly in South Africa. He gained recognition not only for his business acumen but also for his bold and unconventional approach to real estate.

Geffen is the founder of Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty, one of South Africa’s most prominent luxury real estate agencies. His Moniker,” The Maverick " likely stems from his reputation for challenging norms of the industry. Geffen is known for his innovative marketing strategies and his ability to identify emerging trends in the real estate market. He also stands out for his willingness to speak his mind, often offering candid commentary on both the market and broader economic issues.

Geffens success has been driven by his ability to combine traditional real estate expertise with forward thinking practices. Under his leadership his agency has grown into a powerful brand with a focus on high-end properties. His willingness to take risks and embrace new technology has helped solidify his place as a leader in the luxurious real estate market.

Beyond business, Geffen is also known for his philanthropic efforts and being a larger- than- life personality, making him a well regarded figure in South African business and beyond.

Yael Geffen

Chief Executive Officer

Aside from having a love affair with sloths, Yael Geffen is the CEO and a shareholder of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty as well as a member of the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa region task force for Sotheby’s International Realty. She grew up in a real estate dynasty created by her father Lew, who taught her the ropes. She came with a great marketing head, having worked in USA agencies. Lew lauded her, recognizing her marketing skills with a great sense of perspicacity, and she was an immediate asset to the company. Prior to officially joining the family business in 2009, she acquired extensive real estate marketing, brand building and business development experience in the United States. Yael is the winner of the 2020 Standard Bank’s prestigious Top Woman in Property Award and is the 2023 winner of Woman of Stature’s CEO of the Year. She was chosen to represent South Africa as a speaker for the World Leaders Summit in November 2021. She is a mental health advocate and is passionate about authentic leadership.

Sandy Geffen

Sandy Geffen is co founder and co owner of the company since 1982. The Company was founded as Lew Geffen Estates and became a leading estate agency in Johnnesburg for 19 years.
Sandy was responsible for in house training, head of Admin and Event Coordinator. She worked with her husband Lew to create a Luxury real estate brand.

In 2000 the brand changed to Lew Geffen Sotheby's International realty which heralded the expansion of the brand nationally throughout South Africa.

Sandy like Lew is considered a real estate icon and has been influencing real estate since 1982 and is still active today.

Jaco Smit

Chief Information Officer at GIRF Franchise Network

Jaco Smit serves as the Chief Information Officer for the GIRF Franchise Network, where he is responsible for developing and implementing the digital strategy across the network. With 15 years of experience in corporate environments, Jaco has managed large online marketing accounts and led digital strategies for major clients in South Africa and the UK.

He is a Google-certified online marketing specialist with a background extending over 20 years in the field. In additional to his marketing expertise, Jaco is a senior developer with a focus on open source technology. His academic background includes a dregree in Information Technology and Biochemistry, and he is also a certified PHP developer through UNISA.