Private Safaris has announced the appointment of Virginia Barnard as their new Managing Director Southern Africa effective March 6, 2021.

Barnard has worked at Private Safaris for 11 years, and previously held the position of Reservations Director for the South Africa operations. In the course of her career with Private Safaris she has held positions in Sales, Procurement and Key Account Management.

Monika Iuel, who has headed up Private Safaris Southern Africa since 2016, will be leaving the business to take up a role as Chief Marketing Officer at Wesgro (the tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape).

“Virginia brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and business continuity to the role, and already has longstanding relationships with the team, our key customers and suppliers.

Private Safaris is in safe hands and I am confident that – together with the support of our committed shareholders – she will lead the business with a steady hand through the remainder of the recovery period and beyond,” said Iuel.

Barnard adds: “It’s been an honour to grow in this organisation that is so full of loyal, talented and dedicated people, with strong partnerships with customers and suppliers alike.

Private Safaris is well-positioned to grow from strength to strength once demand returns and I look forward to the challenges of the future.”

Madhavan Menon, Chairman of the Thomas Cook Group, concludes “We welcome Virginia to the role and are sure that she will take Private Safaris to new heights in the Post Pandemic environment given her knowledge and experience. We also would like to thank Monika for having safely navigated the company over some challenging times during her tenure with the company.

We wish her all the very best in her new assignment.”