Former South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni has been elected Chairman of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

The appointment was ratified at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on Monday, August 1.

Mboweni has leadership experience in business, government, and academia, including having spent time as minister of labour in former president Nelson Mandela’s cabinet and having served as the first black governor of the South African Reserve Bank for ten years.

He has also served as chairman of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, chancellor of the University of the North West and has held various positions within the African National Congress. Currently, he is an international advisor to Goldman Sachs International and chairman of various companies.

“The Council is extremely pleased to have attracted someone of the calibre of Mr Mboweni as the Chairman of its Board of Directors,” said Mmatšatši Ramawela, the CEO of TBCSA. “We all know Mr Mboweni and the work that he has done while in government and now in the private sector since leaving the public service - a wealth of experience that will no doubt be valuable in guiding TBCSA in its growth and development.”

In welcoming Mboweni as the new Board Chairman at the AGM, outgoing Board Chairman Mavuso Msimang said that TBCSA is extremely blessed to have attracted the talent and experience of someone of the calibre of Mboweni, and should wisely make use of the time that it will have with him to advance the interests of the travel and tourism sector. He described Mr Mboweni as a sharp, witty and independent person, with the capacity to learn within a very short space of time.

In his acceptance speech, Mboweni said, “I'm honoured by the confidence the tourism industry, as represented by TBCSA, has shown in me and I accept the position of Chairperson of the Council with humility and enthusiasm. I am also aware of the challenges the sector faces and endeavour to fill the role of TBCSA Board Chairman with vigour and enthusiasm. I am looking forward to working with the Board, the Secretariat, all the members and TOMSA Levy contributors to further develop our tourism industry.”

Mr Mboweni takes over the reigns of TBCSA Board Chairman from Mr Mavuso Msimang, who served two terms as Board Chairman of the Council.

“I cannot find enough wonderful things to say about Mavuso Msimang’s leadership throughout his term as Board Chairman, especially for the past two years,” Ramawela said. “He has been a great pillar of strength and support when times were tough and a source of counsel and inspiration to his fellow Board Members and the entire staff of TBCSA. His knowledge of the travel and tourism industry, his integrity and wisdom, gained from his many years as a corporate and civic leader, were enormous assets to the Council – he will be greatly missed.”

At the same AGM, the members of TBCSA also ratified the election of Ravi Nadasen, the Operations Director for the Central Northern Region within the Tsogo Sun Group as its Deputy Chairman. Nadasen has been a TBCSA Director for three years and he takes over from an industry stalwart, Clifford Ross, who is the current CEO of the City Lodge Hotel Group. Although retiring from his role as the Deputy Chairman, Ross will still be a Board Member alongside other industry representatives.