Carolus turns down SAA board seat

AFTER lengthy and careful consideration of the additional heavy commitment required of her in order to play a meaningful role as a member of the board of South African Airways, Cheryl Carolus, chief executive officer of South African Tourism (SAT), has declined a seat on the board. However, a press release in November last year stated that “her appointment on the board would allow her to provide insight into the SA industry to ensure SAA was part of the wider family of airlines that also play a very crucial role in increasing air capacity commensurate with the aims and objectives of the tourism growth strategy”. She also denied that her appointment would compromise her integrity as ceo of SAT. Later in that month, Carolus seems to have changed her mind saying that “mindful of the critical issue of airlift as a top-of-mind priority amongst the challenges facing the South African tourism industry, she felt her decision to decline a seat on the board was one which was not taken lightly as it was only by working together as a team that South Africa could succeed in taking its position as the world’s preferred tourism destination, a position it truly deserves.” Carolus added that – in her role as ceo of SA Tourism - she would continue to ensure that the ‘bums on seats’ debate moved forward with all relevant roleplayers, in ensuring that the ‘gravity-defying’ growth of tourism arrivals was maintained and exceeded. (Miguel de Sousa)