South African Tourism announced the appointment of Neesha Padayachy to the position of Global Manager: Product and Sadiq Dindar to the position of Global Manager: Trade Relations.
Neesha's appointment becomes effective July 1, while Sadiq will join the team at South African Tourism on September 1.
Neesha joined South African Tourism in 2005 as a Senior Research Officer. She has worked her way through the organisation and has been appointed to the position of Global Manager: Product position from her present position as Product Support Trade Relations Manager. She replaces Hanneli Slabber who was recently appointed Country Manager in India.
As Global Manager: Product, Neesha will take responsibility for developing and maintaining relationships with key destination trade partners. Working with these various stakeholders in the industry and through servicing the various tourism product offerings, she will help enhance visitor experience and build on South Africa as a value-for-money destination.
She will also engage tourism product stakeholders on behalf of the organisation to develop marketing agreements that are critical to increase length of stay and spend by tourists who come to South Africa. As part of her role, Neesha will also produce marketing collateral and represent the destination at trade seminars, road shows and marketing meetings. She has an Oxford Brookes MBA and a BCom from Wits University.
Sadiq is a new recruit to South African Tourism. He comes to the organisation with a rich background in the aviation and airline sector and has worked for, amongst others, IATA (South Africa), Cathay Pacific, Gulf Airways, Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways. His responsibilities at South African Tourism will include negotiating global and trade deals, and working with airlines and the aviation industry to help improve airlift.
Sadiq will also negotiate marketing partnerships that will help with global distribution and improving access to South Africa. He brings solid sales and negotiation skills as well as a wealth of contacts in global aviation to the team.
