CNS chief Lionel Van der Walt is latest IATA exec to quit

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Lionel Van der Walt, the enthusiastic chief of IATA US offshoot Cargo Network Services, has resigned less than two years into the job.

Mr Van der Walt is the fourth president in less than a decade to leave the organisation, following the brief tenure of Warren Jones, who left in a public row with IATA.

The resignation of yet another chief will add scrutiny to CNS, whose past leaders have indicated unwelcome interference from IATA.

Flying Typers reports that Mr Van der Walt has agreed to stay on to the end of the year, before he moves to become CEO of a non-profit association of architects and engineers who specialise in roofing and exterior walls. He has spent nearly 20 years in aviation, more than 15 of which were at IATA.

Mr Van der Walt, a South African, brought much enthusiasm to the role at CNS, and was credited with making the association’s annual conference more relevant.