SAA Taps Vodacom Executive Vuyani Jarana as CEO

South African Airways (SAA) is putting someone else in charge in a bid to turnaround the ailing national carrier.

The South African National Treasury said on Thursday that former Chief Officer for Vodacom Business Vuyani Jarana will be taking the reins as CEO at SAA.

He will commence his duties after Vodacom has officially released him.

He is responsible for Vodacom Enterprise Business

National Treasury believes that Jarana is a right person to turn around the ailing national carrier.

It said Jarana has, among others, transformed and positioned Vodacom Business as a growth engine of Vodacom, growing its contribution to group service revenues from under 10% to 25% over three years.

He also transformed Stortech, a 51% subsidiary of Vodacom, from a declining business to new growth company, changing shareholding structure and developing a new strategy that responds to the changes in the market.

He built a solid and transformed organisation with emphases on both top line business growth as well as margin expansion.

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said: “given that Jarana has turned around a loss-making subsidiary of the Vodacom Group, Vodacom Business Africa, into profitable and growth business, we believe he will be key in turning around SAA.”