African Flag Carrier Opens CEO Recruitment Following 2026 Leadership Changes

South Africa – State-owned carrier South African Airways (SAA) has conducted recruitment for a permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with the position reporting directly to the airline’s Board of Directors and carrying responsibility for strategy, operational performance, safety, profitability and governance. The recruitment comes during a period of executive transition at the airline and will place responsibility for SAA’s continuing operational and workforce development under a permanent group leader.

• SAA is seeking candidates with 12–15 years of relevant senior leadership experience, including at least six years at executive committee, C-suite, CEO, Managing Director or an equivalent level. The vacancy also requires at least six years of proven CEO or Managing Director experience in complex organisations.
• Other experience requirements include:
  • At least six years leading organisational turnaround, transformation or growth.
  • At least six years with profit-and-loss accountability spanning operations, commercial and customer functions.
  • At least six years working within complex governance structures, including listed companies and/or state-owned entities.
  • At least six years leading diverse, cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams.
  • Experience within a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.
• Candidates are required to hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree at NQF Level 7 and a relevant Master’s degree or postgraduate qualification at NQF Level 8 or above. Direct aviation experience is described as advantageous rather than mandatory, with SAA indicating that executives from aviation-adjacent industries including infrastructure, transport and logistics may also be considered.
• The CEO will hold overall accountability for the airline’s safe and financially sustainable operation, including strategy execution, performance, profitability, governance, stakeholder relations and regulatory obligations. SAA also identifies airline economics, fleet and route profitability, network planning, revenue management, Safety Management Systems, aviation compliance and digital transformation among the knowledge areas relevant to the position.
• The permanent CEO search follows the resignation of Professor John Lamola, whose departure took effect at the end of April 2026. SAA stated that during his tenure the airline expanded from five to 19 aircraft and from six to 17 destinations as it rebuilt operations following business rescue.
• Matshela Seshibe subsequently served as Acting Group CEO before SAA's Board placed him on special leave on August 14, 2026 pending an internal process. Group Chief Legal Officer Koekie Mbeki was appointed Acting Group CEO and is currently identified by SAA as holding that position.
• AFM previously reported that SAA employed 289 pilots as of August 7, 2026, including 54 women, while its cabin crew workforce comprised 368 women and 184 men.

About South African Airways
South African Airways is South Africa’s state-owned national carrier, headquartered at Airways Park in Kempton Park and operating domestic, regional African and long-haul international services from Johannesburg. SAA reported in April 2026 that its fleet had expanded to 19 aircraft comprised of 15 Airbus A320-family aircraft, two Airbus A330-300s, and two Airbus A340-300s.

Source: South African Airways