The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) announced on Monday that it had appointed a new CEO. He is industry veteran Aaron Munetsi and he replaces Wrenelle Stander, who is moving to Western Cape provincial tourism and economic development agency Westgro. Munetsi takes over with immediate effect.

“I am looking forward to leading AASA and building on the solid base that has been prepared by my predecessors and the team,” he affirmed. “I intend to apply my broad industry experience to finding common ground with policy makers, legislators, regulators and our industry partners in developing solutions to key issues facing airlines throughout the Southern African Development Community.”

“Aaron is reputed for his industry knowledge and formidable network of relationships that he has built over his more than 30 years of commercial and aeropolitical experience in the airline industry,” highlighted AASA chairperson Elmar Conradie. “He has worked in Southern, Eastern and West Africa as well as the Middle East for airlines in the public and private sectors, with industry bodies and as a consultant on aeropolitical affairs, all of which make him a natural fit and a great asset for AASA as its new CEO.”

Munetsi holds diplomas and certificates in marketing as well as strategic management and leadership, gained at the University of Zimbabwe, the University of the Witwatersrand Business School and the Gordon Institute for Business Studies. His past experience includes serving on the board of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Business, for a period of ten years.

Regarding his experience in the industry, he held several managerial posts in South African Airways (SAA). These included Regional Manager for Africa as well as acting Chief Commercial Officer. He left SAA in 2018 and joined the African Airlines Association, holding the post of Director: Government, Legal and Industry Affairs. Since he left the association, he has been working as an aeropolitical and business strategy adviser to airlines.