Club Med has appointed Laura Hendel as Managing Director for South Africa.
After five years leading marketing for Club Med Southern Africa and subsequently taking on a broader commercial leadership role heading the company’s Toronto agency, Hendel returns to South Africa at a pivotal moment for the brand, as it celebrates the opening of Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort in KwaZulu-Natal.
Hendel will lead the local team in strengthening Club Med’s market presence, deepening relationships with customers and trade partners, and accelerating growth across both the new KwaZulu-Natal resort and the brand’s international portfolio, from beach escapes to ski holidays.
During her first stint in South Africa, Hendel led the market’s marketing and brand strategy, driving demand generation, strengthening brand positioning and supporting key growth initiatives. She also developed strategic partnerships and led integrated campaigns that contributed significantly to the expansion of Club Med’s presence in the region.
In Toronto, she expanded her leadership scope, overseeing the branch’s overall commercial performance, developing a high-performing team, and driving sales growth, customer loyalty and strategic partnerships across the Ontario market.
“Laura knows our brand, our teams and the South African market inside out, and has further strengthened her leadership experience on the international stage,” says Jérémie Hoss, Vice President and Managing Director, UK, Nordics and South Africa. “Having played an important role in building our presence in South Africa, she is ideally positioned to lead our next chapter of growth. With our first South African resort now open alongside our established outbound business, this is an exciting time for Club Med in the market, and I am confident Laura is the right person to take our ambitions forward.”
Hendel says: “Returning to South Africa is special for me. I spent five years helping to build the Club Med brand in this market, and I am excited to bring back the experience I gained abroad while reconnecting with our teams, partners and customers. With our first South African resort open and the world of Club Med to offer local travellers, my focus is on turning that opportunity into lasting growth.”
