Bob Gurr

Bob Gurr Email and Phone Number

Country Manager South Africa, Proflight Zambia @ Proflight Zambia
Bob Gurr's Location
City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, South Africa
Bob Gurr's Contact Details

Bob Gurr personal email

n/a

Bob Gurr phone numbers

About Bob Gurr

I am an accomplished and skilled aviation professional, with competencies developed across the management and negotiation of airline services contracts. Skilled at identifying new business opportunities, I possess transferable skills in strategy development, negotiation, team leadership, and relationship building which can be applied across an array of industries. As a skilled negotiator, I excel at bringing contracts to fruition, with the best possible results for all parties.With more than 40 years experience in aviation, I have spent the past twenty years working for South Africa's leading ground handling companies. Prior to direct involvement in ground handling I was employed by two national airlines as Airport Management and have a well-rounded perspective of the dynamics of ground handling through being a buyer and a seller of services over the past twenty years. I Chair the Airside Operators Association of South Africa, representing providers of ramp, cargo, catering, security and fuel services to the airline industry. I served as an Officer of the IGHC between 2006 and 2014 and was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Ground Handling Council of IATA in 2012. In 2012 and 2013, I Chaired the annual Ground Handling International Conference in Europe and Chaired the inaugural African Ground Handling Conference in South Africa in 2014. Member of the BRICS Aviation Working Group from February 2019.CORE COMPETENCIES • Excellent aviation and airport industry experience and knowledge base.• Ability to build new and retain existing key stakeholder relationships.• Developing, creating, and launching of new business offerings, resulting in increases sales and profit.• Marketing and sales strategy development.• Collaborative team leadership, via KPI management and mentorship.• Communication and active listening.• Creative problem solving.• Thrives under pressure, producing results within set time frames.• Values diversity and inclusiveness within organisations via learning solutions.• Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.

Bob Gurr's Current Company Details
Proflight Zambia

Proflight Zambia

View
Country Manager South Africa, Proflight Zambia
Bob Gurr Work Experience Details
  • Proflight Zambia
    Country Manager South Africa
    Proflight Zambia Apr 2023 - Present
    Lusaka, Lusaka, Zm
  • Swissport
    Chief Commercial Officer, South Africa
    Swissport Oct 2014 - Mar 2023
    Zurich Airport, Ch
    Manages and maintains Group’s countrywide approach to the management of airline contracts.Negotiates and successfully renews key industry contracts, within set timeframes.Provides leadership and direction to all commercially related teams and activities within organisation.Continually researches and develops proposals to increase company offerings.Supervises a team of staff, working collaboratively to ensure KPIs are achieved and that upskilling of employees is ongoing.Directs staff whilst gathering and preparing documentation for the Ground Handling License Tender pack, resulting in retention of this critical license.Key Achievements: Conceptualised and formulated strategy to open a Swissport commercial airport lounge (one of only two on the African continent), which receives more than 6,500 guest per month. Negotiated and closed largest handling contract in South Africa with SAA.
  • Bidair Services (Pty) Ltd
    Director Sales And Marketing
    Bidair Services (Pty) Ltd Sep 2003 - Jul 2014
    Johannesburg, Gauteng, Za
    Proactively formed and set up a division of Bidvest, to offer several services to airline organisations. Developed sales and marketing strategies to promote company offerings, including cargo handling, aircraft cleaning, passenger handling, lounge services, ramp handling and aviation security.Achieved KPIs of increasing market penetration at local and regional levels.Conducted all airline contract negotiations, ensuring expectations were met and exceeded.Built new, and retained existing business relationships across airline management, key stakeholders, and senior management.Continually developed business strategies to ensuring continued success and market relevance.Developed and promoted the BidAir brand, to establish brand awareness recognition locally and internationally.Assumed a pivotal role in BidAir obtaining a full handling license.Key Achievements: Launched and oversaw implementation of additional VIP meet and greet value-added service offering for charter handling, eventually expanding this service beyond South African borders, adding considerable profitability for organisation. Negotiated and concluded more than thirty airline agreements, working under extreme pressure and tight timeframes.
  • Apron Services - Became Equity Aviation
    Executive Manager Marketing And Client Care
    Apron Services - Became Equity Aviation Feb 1996 - Aug 2003
    Developed sales, marketing, and advertising strategies for Transnet subsidiary, with annual revenues more than R300m (£15m).Expanded organisational operations from four airports to six.Introduced IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement to organisations, ensuring compliance to international airline standards. Negotiated existing and new airline agreements, formulating all SLAs.Addressed client queries and complaints, ensuring all departments within organisation had full understanding of each airlines contractual requirements and expectations.Represented organisation at working group meetings for the IATA Ground Handling Council (IGHC) and participated in company’s EXCO meetings.Consistently worked interdepartmentally and across aviation services to expand service offerings by company, venturing into Africa.Key Achievements : Formed, participated in, and developed the Airside Operators Association, a body representing service providers operating in the airside environment, as a vehicle to raise mutual concerns and share opportunities.
  • Swift Handling Services
    Sales And Marketing Manager
    Swift Handling Services Feb 1995 - Jan 1996
    First foray into ground handling, Swift was a new entrant to the SA market and I was was tasked with building the portfolio of clients and developing additional revenue streams
  • Zambia Airways
    Airport & Cargo Manager
    Zambia Airways Apr 1989 - Jan 1995
    Responsible for all airport operations, working with service providers and airport authorities. additionally responsible for all cargo sales and marketing functions.
  • British Airways
    Airport Customer Service Manager
    British Airways Apr 1976 - Mar 1989
    Middlesex, Gb
    Started working as a Load Controller trainee and during my 13 years with the airline gained experience in cargo, passenger services, LPO and flight OPS. Promoted to Duty Officer in 1980 and subsequently given the role of Customer Service Manager in 1985. Area of responsibility included oversight of CPT and DUR airport operations as well as JNB.

Bob Gurr Skills

Airlines Aviation Airports Iata Airport Management Commercial Aviation Operations Management Flights Civil Aviation Airline Management Aircraft Negotiation Management Contract Negotiation Ground Handling Charter Flight Safety Customer Service Freight Aviation Security Strategic Planning Change Management Business Planning Business Strategy Flight Planning Logistics Business Aviation Tourism Transportation Sales Management Air Freight Ticketing Budgets Team Leadership Revenue Analysis New Business Development Marketing Strategy Amadeus Strategy Team Management Sabre Key Account Management Marketing Account Management Coaching Marketing Communications Customer Relations Mentoring Budgeting Strategy Development

Bob Gurr Education Details

  • Edenvale High School
    Edenvale High School
    Matric
  • Queen Elizabeth'S Grammer School
    Queen Elizabeth'S Grammer School

Frequently Asked Questions about Bob Gurr

What company does Bob Gurr work for?

Bob Gurr works for Proflight Zambia

What is Bob Gurr's role at the current company?

Bob Gurr's current role is Country Manager South Africa, Proflight Zambia.

What is Bob Gurr's email address?

Bob Gurr's email address is bo****@****r.co.za

What is Bob Gurr's direct phone number?

Bob Gurr's direct phone number is +278326*****

What schools did Bob Gurr attend?

Bob Gurr attended Edenvale High School, Queen Elizabeth's Grammer School.

What are some of Bob Gurr's interests?

Bob Gurr has interest in Environment, Children, Education, Economic Empowerment.

What skills is Bob Gurr known for?

Bob Gurr has skills like Airlines, Aviation, Airports, Iata, Airport Management, Commercial Aviation, Operations Management, Flights, Civil Aviation, Airline Management, Aircraft, Negotiation.

Free Chrome Extension

Find emails, phones & company data instantly

Find verified emails from LinkedIn profiles
Get direct phone numbers & mobile contacts
Access company data & employee information
Works directly on LinkedIn - no copy/paste needed
Get Chrome Extension - Free

Aero Online

Your AI prospecting assistant

Download 750 million emails and 100 million phone numbers

Access emails and phone numbers of over 750 million business users. Instantly download verified profiles using 20+ filters, including location, job title, company, function, and industry.