COMAIR ceo, Erik Venter, has
resigned from the company to
pursue his own interests. Erik,
who has been with Comair for
23 years, 13 of them as ceo,
will leave at the end of July.
The announcement came
as a shock to those in the
industry, says ceo of Club
Travel Corporate, Kananelo
Makhetha. “He had a
very hands-on approach to
management and he was
very accessible. If you had a
problem, you could phone him
directly and he would take
ownership of the challenge
and ensure that it was
resolved.”
During his time at Comair,
Erik conceived and led the
airline’s diversification strategy,
which included an investment
in an aviation training
academy, the SLOW business
lounge, Food Directions
catering unit, the travel
business, and its investment
in technology solutions for
tourism, travel and aviation.
Board chair, and also a former
Comair ceo, Piet van Hoven,
says Erik, who is only the fifth
ceo in the company’s 73-year
history, leaves Comair in a
much stronger position than
when he started.
“Erik’s contribution to the
airline industry in South Africa
has been significant and he
leaves the legacy of a very
well-run business. Comair
is very well-positioned to
continue what he started,”
says June Crawford, ceo of
Barsa.
Vanya Lessing, ceo of Sure
Travel, says Erik has been
a wonderful leader who has
produced terrific results.
“I believe I speak for
everyone in Comair when
I say that Erik has been a
visionary, considered and
hugely respected leader
and a wonderful person to
work with. He will be missed
but leaves behind a strong
and experienced executive
management team, which
is another credit to his
foresight.”
June adds that his
resignation, as an industry
stalwart, is a great loss to the
industry.
Wrenelle Stander, a former
Comair director, has now
returned to the board and was
appointed executive director
responsible for the airline
business in September last
year.
“For years to come, Comair
will continue to benefit from
Erik’s contribution in terms of
the course he has set for the
business and the team he
has appointed and nurtured to
deliver it and ensure another
73 years of consecutive
profits,” she says.
Vanya is positive about the
future of Comair, saying that
Wrenelle, who has a very
strong background in aviation,
will be able to lead Comair
into the future.
Speaking about the future
of the airline, Kananelo says:
“We have to look at change as
a positive thing. We can only
hope that the replacement
will be equally as capable and
engaging as Erik.”
The board has yet to decide
on a new appointment.
