Avis Southern Africa Executive Team
Rainer Gottschick
Rainer Gottschick is Chief Executive of Avis Rent a Car Southern Africa, which means all car rental operations in sub Saharan Africa report in to him.Gottschick joined Avis in 1998 as Financial Manager for co-brands and regional countries. He was appointed Group Financial Manager for Avis Southern Africa in 2000 and at the end of 2004 he was promoted to General Manager Regional Countries. In 2007 he was appointed to as Executive for Commercial and Regional Countries heading up all the co-brand businesses for Avis in South Africa which include Avis Luxury Cars, Avis Point 2 Point, Avis Chauffeur Drive, Avis Coach Charter and Avis Truck Rental, as well as Avis licensee businesses incorporating the Van Rental operations. In addition, he was responsible for Avis Rent a Car and Avis Chauffeur Drive in the rest of Southern Africa including Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Madagascar. In 2013 Rainer took up the position of Chief Financial Officer, looking after all financial departments within Avis Southern Africa. Rainer was then promoted to CE of Avis Southern Africa in 2015.
Having graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1994, Gottschick completed his articles at Ernst &Young and qualified as a chartered accountant. His four years at Ernst & Young included a secondment to Ernst & Young in the United Kingdom.
Gottschick believes in doing things right the first time and his personal philosophy is; “Get the basics right to ensure a solid foundation and truly understand your customer’s needs.”
When he’s not at the coalface, Gottschick enjoys golf, travelling, the outdoors and spending time with his family.
Michelle Erasmus
Michelle joined Avis Budget Southern Africa towards the end of 2019, taking up the position of Chief Financial Officer, responsible for all finance functions within the business.
Michelle qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) in 1997 after completing her training contract at Deloitte. She remained at Deloitte for a further 13 years, progressing to the level of Audit Partner in 2004.
From 2010, Michelle fulfilled the role of CFO for Avis Budget Southern Africa’s sister company Avis Fleet, before moving across to the car rental division.
Michelle’s extensive financial accounting knowledge and experience, gained during her years in the profession and within the Barloworld group, have contributed to her success in her current role.
During her spare time Michelle enjoys cooking, travelling and spending time with her family.
Lance Smith
As Executive: Sales, Lance Smith is responsible for managing the rent a car sales within Avis Southern Africa.
Lance was born and educated in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where his passion for cricket saw him represent his country at schoolboy level. In 1980, he came to South Africa to go to the University of Cape Town.
After graduating from the University of Cape Town with a B-Com CTA in 1983, Smith completed his articles with Coopers & Lybrand in Cape Town and qualified as a chartered accountant. His first job was as the Group Accountant for Longmile Limited. In 1990 he moved over to a Longmile Group Company, Grapnel / Kwikfit, as the Financial Director. When the business was bought by Bosal Afrika, Smith moved to Pretoria to take up the position of Sales and Marketing Director for Bosal.
In February 1999 he accepted the position of Sales and Marketing Director at Avis. He remained in the role until 2003 when he was promoted to the position of Executive Strategy. In December 2011 he accepted the opportunity be the Executive of Sales for Avis.
Smith lives by a credo his grandfather instilled in him when he was six-years old: “Seek ye the best in every man and speak of him the best ye can, then will all men speak well of ye and say how kind at heart ye be “
Happily married to Alta for 32 years, this father of three is an active sportsman and enjoys playing tennis and golf and going to the gym. He is particularly fond of fly fishing, which has replaced his childhood passion for cricket.
Rebone Motsatsi
Rebone Motsatsi joined Avis Budget Southern Africa as Executive Commercial in March 2016, responsible for the growth of the Avis Value Added Products and all the Regional Countries.With more than 15 year’s work experience, and 10 years of these being in senior management, Rebone brings on board a wealth of experience. Rebone is an Industrial Engineering graduate from the University of Johannesburg.
A family man (married with two kids) who enjoys exploring the outdoors and playing golf, Motsatsi further aspires to continuously grow and develop into a world class, global business leader – contributing to the triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental) of organisations.
Mynhardt van der Walt
Mynhardt van der Walt joined Avis Rent a Car as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in November 2009. He has over twenty years experience in the information technology industry covering software programming, project and business management and technical areas. Seventeen years of his time spent in the IT industry was within the automotive sector with a public listed company within South Africa.Mynhardt believes that the Information Technology Department should provide services to Avis Rent a Car with customer satisfaction in mind and that the Department should get measured as such.
Starting from the view that Avis Rent a Car is the customer of the IT Department, he believes that this Department should live the same “people are more important than cars” values and treat our internal customers with this in mind at every interaction.
Mynhardt was born in the East Rand and has spent most of his life living there. Some of Mynhardt’s hobbies include off-road motorcycling, golf and spending time with friends and family.
Corne Langenhoven
Corné Langenhoven is Executive Operations at Avis Rent a Car, a position he has held since 2007. He oversees Avis’ mammoth rental operations in South Africa, comprising more than 100 Branches, over 1,000 people and a fleet of 28,000 vehicles.Langenhoven has been in the motor industry all his working life. He joined Avis Fleet Services in 1988. He filled various positions within Avis Fleet Services and was appointed General Manager Avis Fleet Services Botswana in 1999. In 2002, whilst still in Botswana, Avis Rent a Car was added to his portfolio.
At the end of 2004, Langenhoven returned to Avis Rent a Car South Africa and was appointed as Licensee Director responsible for all regional and Licensee countries. In 2005 he accepted the position of Commercial Director responsible for regional countries, Luxury Collection, Van Rental and Truck Rental. Two years later he was appointed to his current position.
Langenhoven completed a management advancement programme at Wits Business School in 2002 and an executive development programme at the Gordon’s Institute of Business in 2008.
When he’s not overseeing operations at Avis, Langenhoven enjoys a game of golf and fly-fishing – his greatest passion. He’s also an avid sports fan and enjoys keeping up with international and local sporting events. He has two children, Philip-Barry and Claire.
Doreen Lupton
Doreen Lupton, Human Resources Executive at Avis Rent a Car oversees the human resources function. Key to this role is the alignment of the human resources strategy to the business strategy. This is achieved through focused attraction, engagement, development, management and retention of our people.Lupton has over 24 years’ experience in business and human resources. She has played various roles ranging from Head of HR, HR Consultant, Training Consultant, National Recruitment Manager and Organisational Development Manager.
Lupton has worked for companies such as Standard Bank, De Beers, Medscheme and FNB Corporate. She comes with a vast knowledge of human resources and has been involved in various interfaces of human resource practices ranging from, culture change initiatives, transformation and restructuring initiatives, training and development initiatives, organisational development initiatives and recruitment and selection.
Lupton has completed human resources and management related studies through The University of Johannesburg, as well Unisa’s School of Business Leadership. She is passionate about the growth and development of people and has recently received her international coaching accreditation.
Lupton believes the key ingredient to success in life is being humble and teachable. Lupton loves her family, she is married to Dale and together they have three children Carl, Cayle and Amy. When Doreen is not watching her children playing sport, she enjoys community work and reading.
Dave Porteous
As Avis Car Sales Executive, Dave Porteous is responsible for the growth of second hand car sales. He has gained over 20 years experience with Avis Car Rental before taking over as Executive of the Avis Car Sales business.Porteous joined Avis in 1988 as a junior member of the Operations team. He studied Business Management at both Damelin and UNISA whilst he worked his way through the ranks mostly in the Johannsburg and Pretoria area and, in 2002 was promoted to Operations Director. In early 2006 Porteous was positioned as head Zeda Car Sales, recently changed to Avis Car Sales, which had been operational for nearly 20 years but, last year, under Porteous’ leadership, Avis Car Sales experienced its most profitable year yet.
“There is no doubt that the economic downturn was a catalyst for the growth at Avis Car Sales. Unlike other car rental companies who made the strategic decision to hold onto their cars for longer, Avis and Barloworld took the decision to sustain it’s current turnover of vehicles. Introducing these cars into the Avis Car Sales business for sale, meant Avis Car Sales has been able to profit significantly,” explained Porteous
Another significant shift in the second hand car business, according to Porteous, is the growth of internet based transactions in both the retail and trade arenas. Retail sales have grown significantly through the Avis Car Sales website at www.aviscarsales.co.za and mywheels.co.za and its trade sales have increased extensively through its online auction site www.tradersonline.co.za.
For the years ahead, Porteous sees the internet as the main platform for growth of sales in the business and plans to develop this strongly - keeping Avis Car Sales one of the most formidable businesses in the industry.