Pretoria. The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has elected former South African Reserve Bank Governor, Mr Tito Mboweni, as the Chairman of its Board of Directors. The appointment was ratified at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on Monday, 1 August 2016.
Mr Mboweni brings a wealth of leadership experience from business, government, and academia, which will positively inform TBCSA’s direction. His credentials include, amongst others, Minister of Labour in President Nelson Mandela’s cabinet from 1994 to 1998 and served as the first black governor of the South African Reserve Bank for ten years.
He has served as Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, Chancellor of the University of the North West and has held various positions within the African National Congress. Currently, he is an International Advisor to Goldman Sachs International and chairman of the following companies: Accelerate Property Fund, Nampak Limited and SacOil Holdings Limited. He is a non-executive director at the New Development Bank (BRICS), PPC and Discovery Limited and is a founding partner of Mboweni Brothers Investment Holdings.
“The Council is extremely pleased to have attracted someone of the calibre of Mr Mboweni as the Chairman of its Board of Directors,” said Ms Mmatšatši Ramawela, the CEO of TBCSA. “We all know Mr Mboweni and the work that he has done while in Government and now in the private sector since leaving the public service – a wealth of experience that will no doubt be valuable in guiding TBCSA in its growth and development,” said Ms Ramawela.
In welcoming Mr Mboweni as the new Board Chairman at the AGM, outgoing Board Chairman Mavuso Msimang said that TBCSA is extremely blessed to have attracted the talent and experience of someone of the calibre of Mr Mboweni, and should wisely make use of the time that it will have with him to advance the interests of the travel and tourism sector. He described Mr Mboweni as a sharp, witty and independent person, with the capacity to learn within a very short space of time.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Mboweni said, “I’m honoured by the confidence the tourism industry, as represented by TBCSA, has shown in me and I accept the position of Chairperson of the Council with humility and enthusiasm. I am also aware of the challenges the sector faces and endeavour to fill the role of TBCSA Board Chairman with vigour and enthusiasm. I am looking forward to working with the Board, the Secretariat, all the members and TOMSA Levy contributors to further develop our tourism industry.”
Mr Mboweni takes over the reigns of TBCSA Board Chairman from Mr Mavuso Msimang, who served two terms as Board Chairman of the Council.
“I cannot find enough wonderful things to say about Mavuso Msimang’s leadership throughout his term as Board Chairman, especially for the past two years,” Ms Ramawela said. “He has been a great pillar of strength and support when times were tough and a source of counsel and inspiration to his fellow Board Members and the entire staff of TBCSA. His knowledge of the travel and tourism industry, his integrity and wisdom, gained from his many years as a corporate and civic leader, were enormous assets to the Council – he will be greatly missed.”
At the same AGM, the members of TBCSA also ratified the election of Mr Ravi Nadasen, the Operations Director for the Central Northern Region within the Tsogo Sun Group as its Deputy Chairman.
Mr Nadasen has been a TBCSA Director for three years and he takes over from an industry stalwart, Mr Clifford Ross, who is the current CEO of the City Lodge Hotel Group. Although retiring from his role as the Deputy Chairman, Mr Ross will still be a Board Member alongside other industry representatives whose function is to support and guide the Secretariat in fulfilling the mandate of the Council, which is to be the voice of organised business in the travel and tourism sector.
ABOUT TBCSA
Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) is a member-based organisation, made up of Trade Associations as well as leading corporates operating in the Travel and Tourism sector. The Council seeks to ensure that the industry is unified and speaks with one voice when engaging stakeholders and partners on macro-economic issues affecting the sector. The TBCSA is a member of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), an organisation that seeks to unify the VOICE of business in South Africa. For more information visit www.bcsa.travel
