Aaron Munetsi has been appointed new CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), with effect from September 27.
Munetsi takes the helm from Wrenelle Stander, who has left to take up a new position with Wesgro, promoting and developing tourism and economic development in the Western Cape.
“Aaron is reputed for his industry knowledge and the formidable network of relationships that he has built over more than 30 years of commercial and aeropolitical experience in the airline industry. He has worked in Southern, Eastern and West Africa as well as the Middle East for airlines in the public and private sectors, with industry bodies and as a consultant on aeropolitical affairs, all of which make him a natural fit and a great asset for AASA as its new CEO,” said AASA Chairperson, Elmar Conradie.
"I am looking forward to leading AASA and building on the solid base that has been prepared by my predecessors and the team,” said Munetsi. “I intend to apply my broad industry experience to finding common ground with policy-makers, legislators, regulators and our industry partners in developing solutions to the key issues facing airlines throughout the Southern African Development Community.”
Munetsi holds diplomas and certificates in marketing, strategic management and leadership from the University of Zimbabwe, University of the Witwatersrand Graduate Business School and the Gordon Institute of Business Science. He has held several commercial management positions at South African Airways, including Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East, and Acting Chief Commercial Officer. For 10 years, Munetsi served on the board of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Business and after leaving SAA in 2018 he joined the African Airlines Association for a stint as Director: Government, Legal and Industry Affairs. For the past year he has been working as an aeropolitical and business strategy adviser to airlines.
Da Silva joins Airlink
Domestic and regional carrier, Airlink, has announced the appointment of Carla da Silva to the position of Executive Manager: Sales and Marketing.
Da Silva has an extensive background in airline commercial business and is widely respected in the industry.
“Carla joins Airlink at a very exciting time as we grow and extend our reach into the challenging and highly competitive South African domestic and intra-Africa markets,” said Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster.
Prior to joining Airlink, Da Silva served as a Non-Executive Director at Aviation Coordinating Services, Chairperson of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (Barsa) and as the Africa and Latin America Regional Manager of Air Mauritius.
She joins Airlink’s dynamic marketing team and will be responsible for, amongst other functions, increasing the company’s brand presence with customers and industry stakeholders, marketing, communications, e-commerce and the development of Airlink’s loyalty programme.
New appointment for Timeless Africa
Beverley Arnold recently joined Timeless Africa Safaris as Financial Manager.
She has significant financial management experience, including in the tourism and hospitality industry.
“We welcome Bev to the team and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship to the benefit of all our stakeholders,” said CEO of Timeless Africa Safaris, Marco van Embden.
