FACE TO FACE
WRENELLE
STANDER – NEW AASA CEO
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has done a solid behind the scenes job of fighting for the promotion and rights of southern African airlines. In July 2021, long serving CEO Chris Zweigenthal retired and Wrenelle Stander has stepped into the hot seat – in this, the most difficult of times. But Wrenelle is supremely qualified, and AASA may consider itself fortunate to have acquired her talents.
W
resumption of scheduled airline services as soon as possible, including the lifting of the ban on leisure travel to and from Gauteng.
Wrenelle has an MBA from Oxford Brookes University in the UK and a BA (Hons) from the University of Cape Town.
1. Recovery of the Southern Africa airline industry 2. Being the voice of influence in the Southern African airline industry 3. Sustainability of the Southern African airline industry 4. Financial sustainability of AASA 5. Renewal of the AASA stakeholder engagement approach and channels Up to now AASA has had a track record of ‘constructive engagement” and not confrontation with opposing forces. Will you continue that style or is more direct and forceful opposition now necessary?
RENELLE HAS HAD a stellar career. Prior to joining AASA, Wrenelle held a range of enterprise level leadership positions within the South African civil aviation and energy industries including Chief Executive Officer - Comair Limited (owner of kulula.com and the BA franchise), Managing Director: Sasol Gas, Managing Director: Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company (ATNS) and she has been a Chairman of the AASA board. She has also served as Deputy CEO of the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
Guy Leitch asks Wrenelle about her vision for AASA and its member airlines’ recovery, particularly in this most difficult of all times. What will be your key priorities at AASA? My immediate focus will be on the full and safe
6
FlightCom August 2021
Over the longer term my focus for AASA will be on the following five strategic priorities:
AASA, together with all aviation stakeholders must
