Gondwana welcomes new managing director

GONDWANA’S MD of the past 21 years, Manni Goldbeck, has passed on the baton to the new managing director, Gys Joubert.

“I am a passionate Namibian. I have a special love for my country, its environment and people.” Gondwana Collection Namibia’s new MD, Joubert, uses these words to describe himself. Joubert wants to direct this passion into the company in his role as MD, a position he assumed on 16 January.

“In my eyes, Gondwana is a phenomenal brand in the Namibian market, and Manni Goldbeck, founder and MD for the past 21 years, is an icon in the tourism industry. In this light, it is extremely humbling and a massive honour for me to take on this position. I’m very glad, however, to say that I don’t have to fill Manni’s shoes; I’ll find my own individual path. And as Manni will remain with the company as the brand and marketing director, I will have the honour and privilege of his guidance, as well as the guidance and support of the rest of the Gondwana team.”

Joubert holds two Master’s degrees in law. He brings his professional expertise as an attorney into the company, as well as his ten years’ experience in the banking world. When he applied for the position of Gondwana’s MD, he already had a taste of what he was getting himself into after serving on the board of directors for the past year.

“As I got to know the company better, I fell head over heels in love with it and its potential,” he says. “My primary focus will be on growth, rather than change. In fact, the value of the Gondwana brand, of the way we do things here, is vital to me. It’s sacred.”

Joubert, 40 years of age, draws his strength from family, and an active lifestyle. He enjoys spending weekends on the family farm with his wife and three children, and keeps fit with mountain biking and jogging, preferably in the wild expanses of Namibia.

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