Sylvain Bosc joins fastjet as Chief Commercial Officer in Johannesburg
African low-cost airline fastjet’s growing team of aviation specialists receives another addition this week as former South African Airways Chief Commercial Officer Sylvain Bosc joins the carrier to lead its commercial activities. He joins a team of heavyweights assembled by CEO Nico Bezuidenhout to rebuild, restructure and redevelop the business.
Bosc’s credentials include a highly successful tenure as Chief Commercial Officer at French carrier Corsair, prior to which he was engaged as Group Strategic Planner for the Air France KLM Group as well as holding several key commercial positions at Air France earlier in his career.
“fastjet holds significant potential as a business,” says Bosc, “and righting the business and positioning it for inevitable growth is an absolute priority.” He adds that the concept of a truly pan-African low-cost airline, making air travel accessible to the second most populous continent after Asia, presents a significant socio-economic and commercial opportunity.
The impact of mobile telephony on the continent has networked markets and contributed substantially to increased economic growth in Africa. The potential for aviation, and low-cost travel, is not dissimilar. “There has been a marked stimulation of tourism and trade growth in markets where fastjet operates. Typically, aviation fulfils a significant role in the development of these two sectors as well as empowering publics who have not had the opportunity to fly before,” says Bosc. “I look forward to fastjet partnering with relevant authorities, governments and private industry to further fuel growth on the continent.”
CEO Nico Bezuidenhout believes that the team he is busy assembling represents the top talent in aviation with appointments reflecting the direction of the business. “fastjet already holds substantial market share on routes that it operates and plans are that it will become the market leader on the continent,” says Bezuidenhout, “Sylvain’s appointment will go a long way to re-establish a solid and formidable commercial foundation. His experience, particularly in Africa, insight and lateral thinking will stand fastjet in good stead.”
