As already reported, Mike Fitzmauritz has officially taken over the reins at FESARTA in the wake of Barney Curtis’s retirement on 28 February 2015.

However, in order to make the appointment official – in terms of FESARTA’s constitution and governance structures – it was necessary to have the appointment ratified and signed off by both the chairman and vice chairman of FESARTA.

This has now been done, which means Fitzmauritz will officially take office as of 1 May 2015 as chief executive officer of FESARTA as outlined in this appointment letter.

Commenting on the news Fitzmauritz said: “I would like to take this opportunity to re-assure everyone that the good work carried out by FESARTA under Barney Curtis over the last 15 years will continue. I am as committed and passionate about FESARTA as Barney was and intend to maintain and improve the quality of service delivered to its members and associated partners globally and regionally in Africa over the past two decades. “I have had the good fortune of having known and worked with Barney on many projects in East and Southern Africa over the last ten years and have grown to respect his knowledge and vision of the transport industry in Africa.

“Consequently, I have a good understanding of FESARTA’s goals and objectives going forward. I will also have support and guidance from Barney in the background for the next 10 months until February 2016, to ensure the continuity of FESARTA’s good work and service,” he adds.

“In closing I would like to thank each and every one of you for your loyal support of FESARTA in the past and trust that this will continue under the new administration of FESARTA. For those of you who do not already know me, I look forward to meeting and getting to know you in the future. For those of you I already know and have met, I look forward to seeing you again soon.”