Biographic Details

Biography – Eric de Jager

Eric’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident at an early age.  At 22, his ambition to have his own business led him to opening a take-away food outlet in the central business district of Johannesburg.  Working during the day and studying at night, Eric qualified as a Chartered Marketer with London’s Institute of Marketing Management.  His diverse entrepreneurial background includes owning and editing a horse racing tipping guide, to being a managing partner of a successful retail advertising, design and promotions agency.

At the time of South Africa’s first democratic elections, Eric identified the fledgling South African tourist industry as a growth opportunity.  He became a shareholder in a small souvenir business (Tigers Eye) with 6 shops and 20 staff and was appointed Chief Executive.  This was the foundation of a business that subsequently grew into a chain of 77 stores and one of the largest destination retailers in the world.

In 1997, Eric was a vendor and involved in the formation and listing of Tourvest on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange.  Four years later he was appointed Divisional CEO of its Travel Retail Division and became a Director of Tourvest Holdings, as well as a member of its Executive Committee.  During Eric’s tenure, the Division has grown into Tourvest’s largest and most profitable business.

As Chief Executive of Tourvest’s Travel Retail Division, Eric carries ultimate responsibility for 77 destination stores, 11 tourist restaurants, 15 jewellery stores and one of the world’s leading Inflight Retailers (TDF), with concessions on British Airways (global), Virgin Atlantic (global), South African Airways, Kenya Airways, TAAG, Angolan Airways and Arik Airways.

The Division has some 1500 staff and offices at OR Tambo International, London Heathrow, Gatwick, Jomo Kenyatta International, Lagos, Luanda and Barbados.

Eric is married to Gail, lives in Johannesburg and has two children who are University graduates.  He is considered an authority on Destination Retail and his Out of Africa stores at OR Tambo and Cape Town International have won numerous international awards.