Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/10149
THANDIWE SYLVIA JANUARY-MCLEAN APPOINTED NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the South African Minister of Tourism, has announced the appointment of Ms. Thandiwe Sylvia January- Mclean as the new chief executive officer of South African Tourism (SAT). January-Mclean, the South African Ambassador to Portugal. will commence her three-year term on 1 January 2010. “Ms. January-Mclean’s appointment bodes well for tourism and we are very excited about having her on board at SAT. During her term as ambassador South Africa’s relationship with Portugal has flourished and we have seen significant growth in trade between the two countries and tourism from Portugal to South Africa. “I am confident that her skills as a consummate man- ager, her exceptional understanding of the South African brand and her insight into the strategic challenges faced by the tourism industry will serve her well in her new position. Tourism in South Africa has grown with leaps and bounds in the last decade, but the industry also faces many challenges. I am sure Ms January-Mclean will steer SAT ably in order to take advantage of the new opportu- nities that lie ahead,” Minister van Schalkwyk said. The Minister also expressed his gratitude to Ms. Didi Moyle, the chief operating officer of SAT, who acted as chief executive officer from March 2009. “Ms. Moyle did an outstanding job as acting chief executive officer during this very busy period as we build up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup and it was a privilege to have her at the helm of SAT. I would like to thank her for her dedication and the professionalism with which she led the team at SAT. “Ms. Moyle’s passion for tourism and for South Africa is very evident in the way she approaches her work and I know her enthusiasm and insight was appreciated by all. It is a privilege to be able to continue working with her in her capacity as SAT’s chief operating officer,” the Minister said. Under the leadership of Ambassador January-McLean, who was appointed as South African Ambassador to Portugal in July, 2005, the bilateral relationship between Portugal and South Africa grew exponentially. The Ambassador hosted high level delegations to Portugal, including two presidential and one deputy presidential, as well as the speaker of the South African House of Parliament, various ministers and senior business leaders. These were all hugely successful and led to partnerships and investments. The Ambassador also gave great visibility to South African Arts and Culture and led two Trade delegations to South Africa. Trade relations between the two coun- tries have grown by approximately 45% in the past three years. Before taking up this post, Ambassador January- McLean was deputy director-general: Arts, Culture and Language in Society in the Department of Arts and Culture. She was also national coordinator of the 10 Years of Freedom Celebrations Presidential Project. Prior to her position at the Department of Arts and Culture, Ambassador January-McLean was the chief executive of The College Fund / UNCF, South Africa. She held this post between 1998 and 2003. She was responsi- ble for managing and directing the Tertiary Education Linkages Project (TELP), which is a $25 million project, funded by the United States International Development Agency. Prior to the UNCF (between 1994 and 1998) she was executive director of the Desmond Tutu Educational Trust where she was responsible for the overall adminis- tration of the Trust, Fundraising, Public Relations, Human Resource Development and Program implemen- tation. The development of Africa and the harnessing of the relevant international and African resources is a key driv- ing force for Ambassador January-McLean. She is also very passionate about issues of gender and women’s empowerment. For further information visit www.southafrica.net. 82 Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com