The World Cup-winning Springbok captain who became CEO of a security company with 9,000 employees

• John Smit, the World Cup-winning Springbok captain, became the CEO of SSG Holdings, a security company with 9,000 employees, in 2019.
• Smit's career transition from professional rugby to security CEO is not uncommon, as he has also held leadership roles in rugby and philanthropy, including being the CEO of the Sharks rugby franchise and founding the Barney Army foundation.
• As CEO of SSG Holdings, Smit has overseen the company's growth and expansion, including a majority stake acquisition by Fidelity Services Group in 2025, which has further expanded the company's footprint in South Africa.