Cargo Network Services appoints IATA old hand as new president

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Cargo Network Services, the IATA offshoot in the US, has appointed Lionel Van der Walt as president.

He replaces Warren Jones, who, in a surprise move by IATA, was ousted this summer – but swiftly went to take on TIACA instead.

Mr Van der Walt, as an IATA employee for the past 10 years, may be able to better navigate the apparently choppy waters that the 70-year old association seems to thrive on.

The CNS position has seen off several presidents recently – Jens Tubbesing lasted two years, Michael Vorwerk was there for three years, while Mr Jones lasted less than two years.

Sources indicated that the recent retirement of Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice president for Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security, could be a boost for any new CNS president who would prefer less interference from Montreal and Geneva. But perhaps Mr Van der Walt will, in any case, find the machinations of an IATA job easier to deal with than past CNS presidents.

Mr Van der Walt has most recently been IATA’s area head for the Caribbean. He has also worked at South African Airways, and has been an air traffic controller. His previous jobs at IATA have touched on cargo, but primarily appear to have been passenger focused.