New captain to steer MSC into unchartered waters

Johann Strydom, left, comes on board as the newly-appointed managing director for MSC Cruises in South Africa.

Johann Strydom, left, comes on board as the newly-appointed managing director for MSC Cruises in South Africa.

Published Jun 28, 2016

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Johannesburg - MSC Cruises has announced the appointment of a new managing director for its business in South Africa.

Johann Strydom took on this new role as of June 1.

He also joins the business as its chief executive officer-designate.

MSC Cruises is currently in the midst of the second phase of its global growth, on the back of an unprecedented 10-plus years, $9-billion expansion, with 11 new next-generation smart mega-cruise ships to come into service between next year and 2026.

Strydom will be tasked with leading this new phase of growth in South Africa, both in terms of expansion of activities in the local market and the extension of the business’s reach to Europe and beyond.

He has a proven track record in the travel and hospitality industry in the region, and South Africa in particular.

Strydom was previously managing director at World Leisure Holidays for almost eight years.

It is a prominent hospitality operator focused on marketing the Sun Resort properties in southern Africa, outbound to the Indian Ocean islands.

Prior to this, he was managing director at Thompsons Tours and Travel for 10 years. Thompsons is a large wide-range tour operator that exposed Strydom to outbound tourism to many countries of the world.

Chief executive Daphne Osborne and commercial sales and marketing director Allan Foggitt will work closely with Strydom on the transition of the business until the end of the year.

Gianni Onorato, chief executive of MSC Cruises, said: “We wish to thank the Foggitt family – specially Daphne Osborne and Allan Foggitt – for all they have done over the years in the development of our business and leadership in South Africa, and will continue doing going forward.

“At the same time, we welcome Johann to our global team, as we look to strengthen MSC Cruises’ existing leadership in South Africa, where today we are already the number one cruise line, and to extend it further by creating on board our fleet serving five continents, an international product dedicated to South African guests.”

Onorato concluded: “MSC Cruises’ additional expansion in this market will lead to the creation of employment onshore and ashore for many South Africans, as well as to generating an increasing interest in cruising across the region.”

Saturday Star

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