After more than seven years in South Africa, Dr André Schulz, Lufthansa’s GM Southern and East Africa, is moving on.

“With effect from November 1, 2022, I will assume my new position as Head of Middle East, Africa, South Asia & CIS Region at Lufthansa Cargo, based at our headquarters in Frankfurt,” said Dr Schulz. 

During the upcoming transition period, he said he would still look after the Passenger Sales & Marketing teams in Southern and East Africa, to ensure a smooth transition and handover. 

He said, with this change, the Lufthansa Group would reintroduce individual regional managers for both Southern Africa (based in Johannesburg) and East Africa (based in Nairobi). The recruiting process is currently under way.

ATTA and Experience Africa Events appoint new Chair and Life Fellow

Having completed his term of office from 2020-2022, John Corse (MD of Serengeti Balloon Safaris) retired on September 30 as Chair.

“The Board would like to thank John for his tireless work, steering the association through extremely difficult and uncharted waters over the pandemic. His experience and wise council are much valued, and he has agreed to retain his position of ATTA’s wholly owned subsidiary, Experience Africa Events Ltd,” the ATTA Board said. 

Nick Aslin (Owner of Zambian Ground Handlers) formerly Vice-Chair is appointed as Chair of both ATTA and Experience Africa Events Ltd from October 1. “The Board are delighted to welcome Nick as Chairman of the association and look forward to working with him over the coming years as the association looks to growth and the return of a full calendar of events around the world.”

On his appointment, Aslin commented: “I have long believed in the value that ATTA is able to offer to all elements of the African travel industry. It was an honour, therefore, to be asked to chair the Association. There is plenty of work to be done but I am looking forward to exciting times as the trade recovers strongly from the trials of the pandemic.”

Aslin will be at the upcoming events in London, firstly welcoming ATTA’s new partnership with The Africa Hub on Wednesday (October 19) in London, and also at ATTA’s popular WTM London Networking event on Monday, November 7.

Fiona Jeffery OBE (Founder of Just a Drop) retires as Director of Experience Africa Events Ltd as of September 30 and is appointed a Life Fellow of the association.

This honorary position is offered to former directors who have made an outstanding contribution to ATTA. Invited to join the Fellowship by the senior office holders of the Association, their wise council is retained and is always much valued by the President, Chair, and Directors. 

Jeffery was first appointed director of ATTA in October 2014 and took over as Chair from October 2018 to 2020. She was the first appointed Director of Experience Africa Events Ltd.

She has made a substantial contribution to the association, overseeing the introduction of the new Memorandum and Articles, the formation of Experience Africa Events and the new Advisory Board. Jeffery was also responsible for the introduction of ATTA’s Sustainable Tourism Charter.

On receiving the appointment, Jeffery commented: “I’m delighted and honoured to become a Fellow of the African Travel & Tourism Association which remains very dear to my heart. The Association is an incredible family of passionate lovers of Africa, each doing what they can to preserve this continent’s wealth of magic whilst sharing it with travellers across the world. I’m delighted to not only see the return post-Covid of Experience Africa, but that we now have a genuine commitment to social and environmental governance through the Association’s own dedicated Sustainability Charter, which will support and unite the sterling effort many ATTA members play in preserving and protecting African culture, wildlife and communities. Through Just a Drop’s work and as a Fellow of the Association I will continue to work to improve opportunities for communities across Africa through the delivery of water, sanitation, hygiene education, food security, gender equality and economic development as well as climate mitigation, and support the African Travel & Tourism Association in any way I can.”

Jeffery now joins ATTA Life Fellows Ross Kennedy (Africa Albida Tourism, Zimbabwe), Anita Powell (Small World Marketing, UK) and Mohanjeet Brar (Gamewatchers Safaris, Kenya).