Connex Travel and Rennies Travel in South Africa plan to merge. BCD Travel counts Connex as a joint-venture partner and Rennies as a member of BCD's network; Rennie parent Bidvest joined BCD's network in January. Operating as BCD Travel South Africa, Connex had been in the network since 2009. The merged travel management company, which will operate as Rennies BCD Travel, will employ 737 and operate offices in nine South African cities—Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Stellenbosch and Richard’s Bay—as well as Namibia, a country northwest of South Africa. Rennies Travel CEO Bronwynn Philipps will serve as CEO of Rennies BCD Travel, and Connex CEO Marco Cristofoli will be a part of the leadership team. Asked whether BCD will own a stake in the new agency, a BCD spokesperson said, "At present, BCD Travel does not have any participating interest in Rennies BCD Travel."