South African Airways (SAA) today announced Mr. Monwabisi Kalawe as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) designate

(TRAVPR.COM) SOUTH AFRICA - April 22nd, 2013 - South African Airways (SAA) today announced Mr. Monwabisi Kalawe as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) designate. This comes after the DPE Minister’s challenge to the SAA Board of Directors to continue to focus on improving SAA’s governance.

“The Board worked tirelessly to find a suitable leader who will lead by example and stabilise the internal environment whilst working towards ensuring good corporate governance within the airline,” said Ms. Dudu Myeni, acting Chairperson of the SAA Board of Directors. “Mr. Kalawe will also lead SAA, as a strategic national asset, towards contributing to the socio-economic development of the country and the continent.”

Mr. Kalawe began his career at State Owned Company (SOC), Eskom, before joining Nestle South Africa for a few years and then returning to Eskom for three years. No stranger to the aviation industry, Mr. Kalawe also worked at Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) for six years before leading Total Facilities Management Company (TFMC) as Chief Operating Officer and Denel as Chief Executive Officer.

After concluding his role as Country Managing Director of Compass Group for five years and more recently as Executive Chairperson, Mr. Kalawe will join SAA in the next few weeks.

Ms. Myeni also thanked Mr. Nico Bezuidenhout for accepting the role of the acting CEO over the last few months. “We are also sincerely grateful for the incredible work that Mr. Bezuidenhout has done towards the development and timely submission of the airline’s first ever long term turnaround strategy,” Myeni added.

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