Following the passing of founder Mike Christie, Gary van der Merwe and the Paint Club members purchased the organisation, ensuring that the group remained independently owned and member-driven. At this point the network had grown to 59 member stores nationwide.
Training Manager – Paint Club (Pty) Ltd
Fred Johnston brings more than 41 years of experience in the global paint and coatings industry. As Training Manager for Paint Club, he is responsible for the ongoing training and professional development of Paint Expert store teams, ensuring that sales staff across the network are equipped with the technical knowledge needed to guide customers confidently.
Fred’s career spans both technical coatings expertise and international business development. He spent a decade developing retail and coatings networks across Nigeria, Angola, and Ghana, and has worked extensively within Sub-Saharan Africa supporting large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. In previous roles, he coordinated the commercial, technical, and regulatory requirements between international company head offices and local supply partners, ensuring complex projects were successfully delivered.
One of Fred’s notable achievements was being part of the AkzoNobel PCMN team in Nigeria that secured and delivered the coatings contract for the Engina FPSO project, a $3.3 billion offshore development built by Samsung Heavy Industries. The project required the manufacture and supply of coatings for more than 220,000 tons of structural steel, demonstrating the scale and complexity of coatings systems used in major international infrastructure.
Fred specialises in helping asset owners, architects, project managers, and contractors understand how paint systems function and how to achieve maximum lifecycle performance from specified coatings systems, particularly within the Plascon product range.
He holds SAPMA certification and NACE Level 1 training, reflecting his strong technical foundation in coatings inspection and performance standards.
Today, Fred focuses on transferring this depth of knowledge into the retail environment, helping Paint Expert stores provide practical, technically sound advice to both DIY customers and professional contractors.
“Paint Club is the home of coatings expertise in retail.”
Sales & Operations Manager – Paint Club (Pty) Ltd
Brian Vosloo brings more than 35 years of experience in the paint, hardware, and retail industries. As Sales & Operations Manager at Paint Club, he works closely with member stores across the country to support operational performance, business development, and store growth.
Brian’s career includes extensive experience in retail management, store ownership, and large-scale store development. He played a key role in opening and establishing Servistar stores in Hillcrest and Pietermaritzburg and later led the development of the Agri and hardware store in Nottingham Road for Underberg Forge.
He also owned and operated his own hardware store for 15 years, giving him firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by independent retailers.
A founder member of Paint Club, Brian has been involved with the organisation since its early development and continues to play an important role in supporting the success of Paint Expert stores nationwide.
His expertise includes business management, store development, and practical problem-solving for DIY customers and contractors.
“Paint Expert stores are privately owned independent businesses, which means they can make decisions quickly and operate without the restrictions of large corporate chains. That flexibility allows them to serve their customers and communities better.”
Head of Marketing – Paint Club (Pty) Ltd
Cheryl Lotter has been working in the South African paint and coatings industry since 2010. As Head of Marketing for Paint Club, she leads national marketing strategy, brand development, and retail growth initiatives for the Paint Expert network of independent specialist paint stores.
Before joining Paint Club, Cheryl spent seven years at Plascon (Pty) Ltd as a National Key Account Manager, where she worked closely with corporate accounts and voluntary buying groups. This experience gave her strong insight into the dynamics of independent retail and the strategic partnerships that support the paint industry.
Since taking leadership of the Paint Club marketing department in 2018, Cheryl has focused on strengthening the Paint Expert brand, developing colour marketing strategies, and supporting member stores with practical marketing tools that help drive growth.
Her core area of expertise is colour guidance — helping customers understand how colours work together, identifying emerging trends, and highlighting timeless palettes that stand the test of time. She is also highly experienced in Plascon product systems and consumer paint guidance.
“At Paint Expert, we strive to provide real expert advice and guidance, making every customer’s paint journey simpler and more enjoyable.”
Chief Executive Officer – Paint Club (Pty) Ltd
Gary van der Merwe has more than 35 years of experience in the paint, coatings, and retail industries, with leadership roles spanning South Africa, Africa, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. As Chief Executive Officer of Paint Club, he defines and drives the strategic direction of the Paint Expert network, focusing on long-term growth, strong supplier partnerships, and commercial success for member stores.
Since joining Paint Club in 2018, Gary has strengthened the organisation’s position as a respected voluntary trading association in the paint and hardware sector. His work centres on supporting independent retailers through strategic expansion, category development, and operational optimisation.
Prior to Paint Club, Gary held senior leadership roles at Kansai Plascon, AkzoNobel, and Dulux ICI. His experience includes overseeing commercial strategy across Africa, directing manufacturing and supply chain operations, establishing decorative coatings divisions in international markets, and leading regional expansion initiatives.
Gary’s expertise includes executive leadership, retail network development, supplier alignment, operational optimisation, and coatings system specification for residential and commercial projects.
He holds a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering from Vaal University of Technology and has completed MBA modules and research proposal work through the Durban University of Technology.
“The Paint Club exists to empower independent paint retailers to compete and win. Through strong supplier partnerships, shared expertise, and a growth-driven member model, we help our stores deliver real value to their customers and communities.”
