Chief Executive Officer: Thulani Nzima

Mr Thulani Nzima, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Thulani Nzima is the Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism

With a wealth of experience in the field of travel and tourism, Mr Thulani Nzima took up his current position as Chief Executive Officer of South African  Tourism in January 2012. Mr Nzima is responsible for all operations of the  national destination-marketing organisation’s head office and its country  offices.

His illustrious career began in the banking industry in 1987. In 1991, he joined  South African Airways (SAA) and spent 14 years honing his skills in all aspects  of the local and international travel and tourism sector. Nzima worked his way  up through the national airline, holding numerous key positions along the way.  He worked in the African, Asian, Australian and Benelux markets, as well as  locally, culminating in his position as Senior Executive Manager and the driving force behind the strategic realignment of SAA’s Voyager programme.

After a stellar career at SAA, Nzima joined the South African Travel Centre  (SATC) in 2005 as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, where he excelled at re-energising the business model, creating new revenue streams

Chief Marketing Officer: Janine Hutton

Janine has over 15 years of senior management experience and is currently the co-founder and owner of the successful online marketing company, Social Act, and is also a Partner at leading destination consulting company Ivy League’s Africa office. She has previously been a Director at The Nielsen Company, a Managing Director and EXCO Board Member at Ogilvy Interactive. She was also previously Managing Director at computer software company Immedia, during the course of a stellar career in which she has specialized particularly in online digital marketing.

“I am a results-driven person who prides myself in converting complex concepts and innovative ideas into profitable businesses, which I think will be very beneficial for a research and target-driven organisation such as SA Tourism. I am very excited at the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge. In the changing marketing environment and business world, I believe the best way to achieve success is with an integrated marketing approach, including all aspects of relevant digital channels, to positively influence lead generation, increase brand awareness and drive tourist arrivals to our country,” Hutton said of her appointment.

Chief Financial Officer: Johan van der Walt

He came to South African Tourism from the SF Consumer Network (Pty) Ltd where he was a 50 percent partner and Financial Director in a company that turned over some R35 million per annum.

Van der Walt has built a finance and administration team at South African Tourism that delivers effective and efficient management in 14 international markets. His responsibilities include (but are not limited to) stakeholder management, project evaluation, treasury and corporate finance, internal auditing, reporting and budget control.

He has overseen and ensured the delivery of world-class internal controls, policies and procedures at South African Tourism that are Public Finance and Management Act (PFMA) compliant. Under his leadership, the organisation has achieved seven unqualified audits to date. He has implemented an enterprise resource planning solution for the organisation and has achieved ISO 9001 compliance for South African Tourism, making the organisation the first government entity to achieve such compliance.

Van der Walt has a BCompt and BCompt honours (both from the University of the Free State, South Africa), a CA and a MCom (cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg (previously called Rand Afrikaans University). He is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants and Auditors Board.

He lives in Johannesburg with his family and enjoys gardening and reading in his spare time.

Chief Operating Officer: Timothy Scholtz

In November 2010, Mr Timothy Scholtz was appointed as South African Tourism's (SAT) Chief Operating Officer (COO). His impressive career spans the non-profit, retail and financial management sectors of the South African economy. He also has extensive experience in Corporate Services and execution.

In his spare time, he is the chairman of two non-profit organisations, one dealing with young entrepreneurs and the other dealing with a job creation initiative with rural papermaking entities. His experience in international compliance and his passion for non-profit organisations began in 2003, when he was Chief Financial Officer and COO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He holds an Institute of Accounting Commerce membership as an Accounting Officer.

Scholtzentered the retail sector in 1984, after completing his B.Comm degree at the University of South Africa. He started his career with Saftainer, the container division of Safmarine. Starting as a branch clerk, he rose to the position of Financial Manager in just 10 years and, ultimately, business auditor in 1995.

His career then naturally progressed into financial management and internal auditing. In 1999, he relocated to Johannesburg as part of the Risk Consulting team at Arthur Andersen and Co.

Mr Scholtz joined the National Business Initiative (NBI) as the Financial Manager for the Business Trust (April 2000). Just over a year later, he was promoted to the Director of Financial and Administration, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. He successfully managed a R1 billion programme, an initiative between business and government, to build a sustainable socio-economic post-apartheid South Africa. Whilst at the NBI, he continued part-time studies and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Management at the University of Johannesburg.

In November 2003, Mr Scholtz joined the Nelson Mandela Foundation as Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. He spent a fulfilling four years in this post, before deciding to join FranklinCovey SA, a leadership training and consulting business. This is where his Corporate Services and Execution capabilities were fine-tuned, mastering the art of getting things done within 17 countries in Southern and East Africa.

Chief Quality Assurance Officer of the TGCSA: Thembi Kunene

Thembi Kunene obtained her BA Communications degree from Fort Hare University in 1988. Her postgraduate studies and short courses include a Management Development Programme (University of Pretoria), Finance for non-Financial Management Certificate (Wits Business School) and ‘Building High Performance Boards' (IMD, Geneva).

From 1989 to 1993 Thembi held various positions starting as teller at the Perm Building Society (banking), Client Service at O & M (advertising) and as Assistant Public Relations at the Industrial Development Corporation (PR).

In 1994, Thembi joined the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) as the Public Relations Officer for the then Johannesburg International Airport, and three years later became the first black person, the first woman and the youngest person ever to manage an airport in South Africa, in 1997 – George Airport. Thembi got promoted to the Assistant General Manager position for Durban International Airport less than two years later.

In 2000, Thembi joined the City of Johannesburg to assist with the restructuring and commercialisation of its entities and effectively turned the Johannesburg Zoo into a fully operational Section 21 entity, with its own systems and processes.

2003 saw Thembi join the Bidvest Group as the Commercial Director of Bidfreight where she drove the Division’s transformation and business development objectives culminating in securing long-term leases for key properties around the Ports in South Africa, which facilitated further capital investments due to security of tenure – resulting in improved share value for Bidvest shareholders. For this, Thembi was recognised by Brian Joffee and awarded an “Excellent and Distinguished Service’’ certificate.

May 2006 saw Thembi leave Bidvest to pursue her entrepreneurial activities and spent a year setting up Siyazi Investment Holdings.

In August 2007, Thembi joined the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) as its new CEO with her main responsibility being to ensure quality graded tourism accommodation in South Africa.

During 2009, the TGCSA was fully integrated into South African Tourism, resulting in Thembi being appointed on the SAT Exco, the highest decision-making body over 17 Business Units reporting to the SAT, CEO – which meant a title change to Chief Quality Assurance Officer, a position she currently still holds.

Thembi serves/has served in a non-executive capacity on the following:

• MATCH Advisory Board - body that advised FIFA on the delivery of a successful 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (2008-2010)
• Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (10years - 2001-2010)
• Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) (6years - 2002-2008)
• Cape Town Routes Unlimited, (2years – 2008- 2010)
• Tourvest (2005-todate)
• Siyazi Investment Holdings,(2005 to date)
• Siyazi Technology,(5 years 2005-2010 )