[2] He was a director of approximately 50 companies and chairman of the Rhodesian Mercantile Holding Co.[3] Elie Susman was born to Jewish parents in Rietavas, western Russia, now Lithuania.
He also had two sisters, including Dora Gersh.
[4] With his brother Harry, Elie Susman, emigrated to South Africa in the late 1890s.
[3] In 1930, he was one of the original directors who set up Northern Caterers Ltd., based in Kitwe, which operated hotels and bakeries in Luanshya, Nchanga, Nkana, and Mufulira.
[6] In the same year, he left Northern Rhodesia and went to South Africa where, with a friend from Bechuanaland, Max Sonnenberg,[7] they established the Woolworths stores in Transvaal; Susman served as the Resident director.