Nico's appointment is seen as an effort to stabilise leadership at Mango Airlines.
Mango Airlines has confirmed that Nico Bezuidenhout will return as CEO of the low-cost airline with effect from 1 October.
In a statement, Mango said the appointment of a permanent CEO is “a step in stabilising leadership and strengthening the executive capacity of the board”.
Nico was the founding CEO of Mango Airlines and has a track record of successfully managing the business during his tenure from 2006 to 2016. He has 18-years senior-level experience, 13 of which he was as a CEO.
He also has extensive aviation experience, having been a member of the Star Alliance chief executive board, an AGM president at International Air Transportation Association, a chairman of the Airlines Association of Africa and a EXCO member of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa.
He was one of the main authors of South African Airways’ Long Term Turnaround Strategy in 2013 and was responsible for its adoption by the shareholder. He served as an acting SAA CEO on two previous occasions.
Nico is presently the group CEO of London-listed holding company for African Low-Cost Carriers, Fastjet Plc, where he has gained experience in markets such as Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He is also a non-executive board member of the state-owned airline Kazakhstan and an advisory board member for an airline distribution technology company in the United States of America.
Mango said that Nico’s appointment will reinforce executive management capacity at Mango Airlines and accelerate the implementation of the group’s turnaround strategy.
The board of South African Airways (SAA), the parent company of Mango, welcomed Nico’s appointment.
“We are pleased to welcome Nico Bezuidenhout back into the SAA group,” said chair JB Magwaza. “His appointment will advance the implementation of the turnaround strategy of SAA group.”
