Liezl Gericke

4th August 2017

     

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Full Name: Liezl Gericke

Position: Country manager: Southern Africa – Virgin Atlantic Airways

Main Activity of the Company: Aviation

Date and Place of Birth: November 8, 1977, Cape Town

Education: Diploma in travel and tourism

First Job: Travel agent

Career History Prior to Current Position: Travel agent/branch manager, Flight Centre; product development manager, Flight Centre; marketing manager, Flight Centre; commercial/product and marketing manager, STA Travel; MD, STA Travel; sales and marketing manager, Virgin Atlantic Airways

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 300 a month, excluding commission

First Job with Present Group: Sales and marketing manager

Value of Assets under Your Control: Annual revenue of R500-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 45

Management Style: Democratic/consultative

Personal Best Achievement: My two children

Professional Best Achievement: Receiving the 2016 Leadership Game Changer Award at Virgin Atlantic, leading a dynamic team, and delivering the highest load factors and profit on our International network, coupled with a people engagement score of 92%

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Sean Hough, my MD at STA Travel

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I managed to meet some amazing people in my career before working for Virgin Atlantic. I would have likely said Richard Branson, but I can tick the box on that one. Other incredible people I have met are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Queen of England and a few other royals and rock stars

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson – he is the most down-to-earth, switched-on, dynamic and inspiring leader

Philosophy of Life: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading a division of the Virgin group

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None – I am a half-glass-full kind of person

Hope for the Future: That our country is free of corruption and violent crime and becomes a place where our children can live in harmony

Favourite Reading: Nonfiction and motivational and leadership books. My favourite leadership book is Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni

Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch TV

Favourite Food/Drink: I am sucker for authentic Thai or North Indian cuisine

Favourite Music: 80s and 90s everything. I also love pop and rock

Favourite Sport: Both my children play rugby, so I feel compelled to say rugby

Favourite Website: I love to travel, so, generally, any website that gives me inspiration for holidays. My first go-to website is, obviously, www.virgin-atlantic.com or www.virginholidays.com

Hobbies: Walking/running with my dogs

Pets: Three dogs and three cats, all of which are rescues or hand-me-downs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who are unkind

Favourite Other South African Company: Nando's

Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon

Married: To Sean Gericke, for 17 years on August 26

Children: Kyle, 16; Sian, 15

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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