THE SA travel trade
remains supportive
of SAA as turmoil and
instability continue at the
embattled airline’s top
management level.
The national carrier saw its
sixth change of leadership
in three years last week
when SAA suddenly
announced that acting ceo,
Nico Bezuidenhout, would
return to Mango, effective
immediately.
On the evening of July
29, just two days before
Nico was expected to arrive
in Ghana to attend the
launch event of SAA’s first
flight between Accra and
Washington DC, SAA staff
received a communication
from chairperson, Dudu
Myeni, to say that “at
the request of the Mango
Airlines Board, the SAA
Board has acceded to
Mango’s request that Mr
Bezuidenhout be returned
to his primary role as ceo of
Mango Airlines”.
She continued to say that
the 90-Day turnaround plan,
which was led by Nico, was
“now fully operational and
the compelling need for Mr
Bezuidenhout’s continued
role at SAA has normalised
compared to the need
for his position as ceo of
Mango”.
Human resources gm,
Thuli Mpshe, has taken over
the reins of the airline.
She has several
qualifications, including a
BCom from Unisa and a
postgraduate certificate in
Business Management from
Warwick University in the
UK. She started her career
in banking and has worked
for two of the top banks in
South Africa.
SAA did not respond to
questions on why Thuli had
been chosen to replace Nico
as acting ceo.
National Treasury’s
acting chief director of
communications, Phumza
Macanda, told TNW: “These
are board decisions and the
Minister has requested and
is still waiting for the board
to explain the circumstances
surrounding the departure of
the ceo and the appointment
of the acting ceo.”
SAA’s leadership
challenges won’t impact
on the travel trade,
industry players say.
“There has been so
much turmoil at SAA over
the years, the trade has
hardened itself,” says Allan
Lunz, md of BidTravel.
He says although it is
disturbing that SAA can’t
seem to find a ceo, the
trade’s relationship with the
commercial team of SAA is
unaffected.
Pentravel ceo, Sean
Hough, agrees that as long
as the commercial team at
SAA remain consistent, the
changes at top level won’t
affect the trade.
The commercial team at
SAA are very invested in the
trade and will do everything
to nurture this relationship,
says Chris Zweigenthal, ceo
of Aasa.
“A change in leadership
doesn’t mean the place will
fall to pieces,” he says.
However, in the long term,
a permanent solution is
needed to bring stability to
the airline and ensure SAA
continues on the turnaround
course set out by Nico.
During his tenure as acting
ceo, Nico made great
progress in improving SAA’s
operations and significantly
reduced costs. The 90-Day
Action Plan, which was
completed at the end of
March, brought about a
35% improvement in the
airline’s operating position,
year-on-year.
“The constant changes
don’t look good overseas
for brand South Africa and
they create uncertainty
here at home,” says Sean.
“There is no question the
airline needs consistent
leadership but it’s becoming
increasingly difficult to fill
the position of ceo. I’m not
sure the environment is right
to attract the right business
person.”
“It’s important that SAA’s
plan of action remains the
same,” says Dinesh Naidoo,
group operations director
of Serendipity Worldwide
Group. “SAA can’t keep
treating the symptoms; it
needs to address the virus.”
Although a new ceo
will undoubtedly bring
about a different style
of leadership and he or
she might modify certain
aspects of the turnaround
strategy, this doesn’t mean
all the positive changes
Nico brought about will be
undone, says Chris.
