South African Airways appoints advocate Vusi Pikoli to its leadership team to head Risk and Compliance

JOHANNESBURG. 15 January 2019. South African Airways (SAA) has appointed advocate Vusi Pikoli to its leadership team. He is currently an advisor to the Minister of State Security and was previously the National Director of Public Prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Adv. Pikoli joins SAA from 1 February 2019 as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, reporting to SAA Group CEO Vuyani Jarana.

“The appointment of adv. Pikoli is as important as it is significant in demonstrating our resolve to bringing capacity to strengthen the executive team to execute on our turnaround strategy with much urgency. He brings a wealth of experience and is known to be a disciplined and strong administrator,” says Tlali Tlali, SAA Spokesperson.

SAA has made it one of its priorities to cleanse the organization of corruption.

As the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Adv. Pikoli will be responsible for Risk Management and Compliance functions in SAA comprising of aviation and general legislation compliance. He will also be responsible for the overall strategic and operational responsibility for the integrated Risk Management Strategy for SAA.

“We are resolute about our commitment to restore and maintain good governance at required levels at SAA as this is one of the important enablers for the effective implementation of our turnaround plan,” concludes Tlali.

Adv. Pikoli holds impeccable credentials having completed BA (Law), LLB, LLM, Business Leadership Programme and is an admitted Advocate of the High Court in South Africa. He previously served as Head of the NPA from 2005 until 2007, as Director-General for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and has private sector experience as a Director and Head of Forensic Investigations.

He has aviation industry exposure through his involvement in reinsurance of aircraft fleet while working for an insurance company.