Stuart Snowball’s death ‘tragic and a great loss'

"The Warehouse Finder team extend their deepest condolences to Stuart's family and to Growthpoint - it is always sad to hear of the loss of someone from the commercial property fraternity" Craig Cooper - Director

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A’s largest property group Growthpoint Properties yesterday described the death of its financial director Stuart Snowball as “tragic and a great loss” to the company.

Growthpoint executive director Estienne de Klerk said Mr Snowball had been “more than a colleague” and had been a “friend and a great team player”.

“This is a big loss for us. Norbert Sasse, our CEO, and myself visited him last week on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son,” Mr de Klerk said.

Mr Snowball passed away on Friday from pancreatic cancer.

He was Growthpoint’s chief financial officer from 2003 until his appointment as financial director in August 2008.

Alternative Real Estate fund manager Maurice Shapiro said: “We extend our deepest sympathy to Stuart’s family.

“With all his extensive experience and knowledge of the property sector, he still was humble and unassuming. His passing is a huge loss and will leave a large void.”

Mr Snowball, BCom Hons (Accounting) and CA (SA), had 27 years of experience in commerce, including 18 years in property.

Mr Snowball had also previously served as chief financial officer of Barprop and Primegro Properties.

Under his leadership, and recognising the quality of its market intelligence, the Investment Analysts Society this year awarded Growthpoint Properties its Best Reporting and Communications Award in the financial services sector.

Each year the society recognises the skills of listed companies in these fields, and this was the first time Growthpoint — with total assets of more than R50bn and a market capitalisation of R36bn — received the award.