SPOTLIGHT | 15
www.theevent.co.za
Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) CEO, Rashid Toefy will be leaving the CTICC in mid June 2014 to embark on a new journey with MCI. MCI is one of the world’s leading providers of strategic engagement and activation solutions and a key driver of innovation in the international meetings, incentives, congress and events (MICE) industry. Rashid will fulfil the role of MCI South Africa, Managing Director, when his tenure concludes at the CTICC. According to CTICC Chairperson, Gary Fisher, while the board is sad to bid farewell to Rashid, they wish him all the success in
his new endeavour, “Rashid was appointed as CEO of the centre in March 2008. We believe he has exceeded on the deliverables he was tasked with as the head of the CTICC,” said Fisher. During Rashid’s term of office the centre also hit a record high in terms of its financial performance and achieved an unqualified clean audit. Over the past six years the centre has garnered international recognition for its commitment to international standards of best practice. The CTICC is also one of the world’s leading sustainable convention centres and is the
only centre in the world to align its reporting to the Global Reporting Initiative Framework and achieve a Level B + status. Sumaira Isaacs, MCI CEO for India, the Middle East and Africa (Imea) said that MCI is excited to have Rashid join the group. “He will bring unparalleled local expertise and connections, which will reinforce MCI South Africa’s capacity to deliver winning strategies and solutions for clients across the Imea region,” she said. Rashid said he remains fully committed to the CTICC and looks forward to assisting the board in managing the transition.
“ Since you were appointed CEO of the CTICC seven years ago, how much have you grown in your role? What contributions have you made to the industry? I came in as the new kid on the block. A young, new CEO in one of the ‘sexiest’ jobs in the industry! It was hard work at first, as people are quite stuck in their ways. I was able to bring fresh eyes and fresh perspectives. I had little respect for the way things were done, and I just said “if we want to be the best in the market worldwide, we can’t compare ourselves to the local market”. So I went out there and travelled, and tried to see exactly what was on offer. I wanted to widen the lens, and take the focus off being the best just in South Africa. We needed to compete on the global stage. It has been an exciting time over the past seven years. The whole culture has changed, as you can see with our focus on innovation and sustainability, which we have been recognised consistently for. I feel like we have driven and implemented all the innovation that can be done within the constraints of running a convention centre. This is the perfect time for me to leave as I am coming to the end of my tenure, and I feel that I am in the position to springboard into a new opportunity. It’s a very exciting time.
Which global conference centre impressed you the most in your travels? And have you tried to emulate some aspects at the CTICC? Vancouver. When I went there, they were just expanding into their new convention centre. They are one of our direct competitors as a long-haul destination, and they are also in a gorgeous city. The food was incredible, everything ran like clockwork; it was just hugely impressive. I was blown away by their green technology; theirs is a platinum LEED green building. I see Vancouver as a benchmark organisation, and over the years they have come to see us as a benchmark too. Melbourne is the other green leader, and the fact that they wanted to be in an alliance with Vancouver and CTICC was so impressive.
What is your single biggest achievement from the past seven years? Watching some of my people graduate. I did my MBA through the graduate school of business, and I approached them to develop an events management post graduate diploma. Almost 20 of CTICC’s staff have gone through the programme, and they are now geared for management positions.
Bringing about personal development transformations is the single greatest mission within the organisation. My legacy, I hope, is the depth of leadership within the CTICC.
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Bringing about personal development transformations is the single greatest mission within the organisation. My legacy, I hope, is the depth of leadership within the CTICC.
What is MCI going to offer the region by having an office in Cape Town? Strategically, having the global leader in association and event management choosing Cape Town as its African headquarters bodes well for Cape Town and South Africa’s meetings and events industry. MCI’s multifaceted approach is unique in that it will offer a combination of DMC, Association management and PCO services. Want to know more then watch this space after July.