Vuyani Jarana to take over as CEO of South African Airways from November 1

September 26, 2017: The flag carrier of South Africa, South African Airways (SAA) has appointed Vuyani Jarana as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from November 1, 2017. He will be based at the airline’s headquarters, Airways Park, Johannesburg.

Vuyani Jarana is currently serving as the CEO of Vodacom Business.  The South Africa’s National Treasury had in August confirmed the appointment Jarani in a statement. The Airlines is getting a permanent person as CEO since November 2015.

The airline has been bleeding since 2011 and was handed a bailout package in the month of July with a ‘strict’ turnaround strategy. The new appointment is also part of the said bailout.

“We are pleased to announce that the start date of our new CEO, Vuyani Jarana has been determined as for November 1, 2017. The decision follows the conclusion of negotiations with his current employer on his release date,” said SAA Spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

The appointment of Jarana will bring stability at the executive tier of the airline’s leadership. This will also enable the acting CEO, Musa Zwane, to return to the maintenance subsidiary, SAA Technical, where he is a full-time chief executive.

One of Jarana’s major responsibilities will be to ensure the effective implementation of SAA’s recently finalised five-year corporate plan. SAA must return to commercial sustainability in the shortest time possible.

The Board of Directors will support Jarana and his executive team in every way possible and will exercise fiduciary responsibilities on SAA in accordance with the law and in line with the expectations of the shareholder.

“This is an important step forward that will boost staff morale and instill confidence in our business from suppliers, customers and stakeholders at large,” concluded Tlali.