(Posted 02nd May 2023)
ATTA, the African Travel and Tourism Association, has just announced the
appointment of Jon Danks as CEO
Jon has held numerous senior leadership positions at multinational membership
organisations, with over 40 years travelling the continent of Africa. Well known to
the Africa media, buyer, agent, and operator audience, he brings experience in
public affairs connected across the continent’s high commissions and tourism
agencies. He has also held several key roles in aviation at BA and SAA and as
Marketing Chairman (UK) for Star Alliance and joins from Avis where he held a
senior role driving commercial performance.
Key Positions
2022 – Date Avis Head of Marketing & Direct Sales
2012 – 2021 South African Airways Head of Marketing, Digital & Comms
2013 – 2018 Star Alliance Chairman Country Marketing & Comms
2011 – 2012 The Times Head of Marketing
2005 – 2008 Royal Automobile Club Senior Manager Membership (RAC)
2000 – 2005 British Airways Comms Manager
1998 – 2000 British Airways Marketing Manager
1991 – 1997 British Airways Various Roles
Jon will be based at ATTA’s new office (Matrix Studios, 91 Peterborough Road,
SW6 3BU) and can be contacted via email – jon@atta.travel or on the usual office
phone number.
Chris Mears will continue as CEO of Experience Africa Events, ATTA’s wholly owned
events subsidiary.
Jon, along with the ATTA HQ team will be at Indaba in Durban from 08th to 11th of May
and at ‘We Are Africa in Cape Town’ from 15th to 18th of May.
ATTA® serves and supports businesses in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands representing buyers
and suppliers of tourism product across 24 African countries. With 612 members, ATTA® acts as
Pan-Africa’s largest network of tourism product covering not only accommodation, transport and
travel specialists in Africa, but a formidable selection of tour operators, representation and PR
companies worldwide promoting tourism to Africa.
ATCNews extends best wishes to Jon as he joins ATTA and also to Chris for his new full time role at Experience Africa Events.
Special thanks also to to Chris for his outstanding support, his insights and always instant responses to questions over the past six years since he joined ATTA in 2017.
