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Novick quits Comair in surprise move

Cape Town - Gidon Novick, joint CEO of Comair, has resigned from the company with immediate effect to pursue other entrepreneurial business ventures.

Novick and Erik Venter have been serving as joint CEOs at the group for the past five-and-a-half years.

Novick said on Thursday that Comair, which operates the British Airways franchise in South Africa and low-cost carrier Kulula, has decided it is necessary to have a single CEO from now on.

“While the past few years have been excellent  for the group, it has been rather unusual to have two CEOs. It was thought necessary to continue forward with one vision and one strategy and for me it was time to move on,” Novick said.

Novick said there was “absolutely no bad blood between himself and Venter”.

“We had lots of fights over the years but I am not leaving because of any fight. It’s simply time to move on. Erik is a great guy and he is surrounded by a great team.”

Venter said the group has become a lot more “operationally integrated”, making it increasingly difficult to delegate responsibilities.

“We’ve gotten to the point where it's more logical to have one decisionmaker.”

Venter said he remains committed to the group.

Novick has also resigned from the board of Comair and said while he will still consult and assist in the industry, he is looking at areas outside it to focus on.

“This decision didn’t come overnight. I have been considering it for a few months,” Novick told Fin24.

 - Fin24
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