Chichi Maponya

Chichi Maponya is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of Africa Travel Retail, a dynamic company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company specializes in travel retail, including distribution and retail operations, airport customer experience advisory, “sense of place” advisory and implementation, and non-aeronautical commercial services. 

Her extensive experience and accomplishments as a business leader earned her the prestigious South African Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2008. 

She currently serves as the Board Chairperson of the Maponya Group, a diversified family-owned enterprise founded in 1952 by her late parents, Dr. Richard and Marina Maponya. In addition to this role, she is a Trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, established by the former President of South Africa. She also sits on the Board of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) and is a Trustee of the Dr. Richard Maponya Institute for Skills and Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she serves on the boards of Boxer, one of South Africa’s largest discount grocery retailers, and Africa Realty Trust (ART), a citrus export company. 

Chichi’s leadership also extends internationally through her active participation in the Middle East and Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA). She serves on MEADFA’s Advocacy Committee and was recently elected as its Vice President, further strengthening her global influence. 

She is a member of the ACI Africa Economics Committee and ACI Africa World Business Partners, and contributes to the Airports Council International (ACI) World Economics Standing Committee, where she serves on the Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) subcommittee. 

Chichi previously served as Deputy Chairperson of the South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR), which advises the Minister of International Relations. She is also a former Chairperson of Brand South Africa, the agency responsible for promoting the country as an international investment destination. Additionally, she has served as a board member of South African Tourism and 4 Africa Exchange (4AX), an alternative stock exchange.