Laura Hendel has been appointed Managing Director of Club Med South Africa, effective October 1, succeeding Olivier Perillat-Piratoine, who left the company at the end of September.
Hendel returns to South Africa after heading Club Med's Toronto agency, where she oversaw commercial performance, sales growth and strategic partnerships across the Ontario market.
She previously spent five years as Marketing Manager for Club Med Southern Africa.
In her new role, Hendel will oversee the company's South African operations, including its first local resort in KwaZulu-Natal, while strengthening trade relationships and growing its outbound holiday business.
SAVRALA elects new President
Ramasela Ganda, Group CEO of Zeda Limited, the holding company of Avis Budget Southern Africa, has been elected President of the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA).
Ganda becomes the association's first black woman President, following elections at its AGM in Johannesburg on October 19.
She succeeds Rainer Gottschick of Motus, who remains on SAVRALA's newly elected 11-member National Executive Council.
Braam Greyling of Hertz was elected Vice-President, while Essa Suleman of Woodford Car Hire takes over as Rental Chair, supported by Jody Naidoo of Bluu Car Rental as Rental Vice-Chair.
Ganda said her priorities would include sustainable industry growth, job creation and more representative leadership across the vehicle rental and leasing sectors.
