Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers.
1. Anthony Hayes departs AAT Kings
Image: scania.com
After nearly four years as the Managing Director of AAT Kings, Anthony Hayes has announced his departure from the organisation to head up operations at FantaSea.
Hayes will remain in his current role until December this year, in the meantime The Travel Corporation (TTC) has commenced a search for a successor.
The MD said while he will be “extremely sad” to leave the organisation, he is excited to maintain a good relationship with TTC as the new CEO of FantaSea.
2. Peter Smith joins the Beyond Travel team
Beyond Travel continues to expand and focus on building the business with the recent appointment of the highly experienced travel expert Peter Smith, who joins the company as general manager business growth.
Mr Smith brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the team since joining the travel industry when he first moved to Australia in the mid 80’s. This includes various senior positions within the Travel Corporation brands, Octopus Travel, Zuji and most recently McLachlan Battlefield Tours.
He said: “I have joined the Beyond team at an exciting time of growth and diversity and am looking forward to working with a long-standing reputable brand that is committed to providing Australian travellers high quality products with great value”.
Owner and CEO Michael Lavilles said that Smiths appointment was the start of continued expansion across the business.
3. Amadeus appoints Andrew Gay to head New Zealand & Pacific Islands
Amadeus announced the appointment of Andrew Gay as the General Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Andrew Gay will join Amadeus IT Pacific’s management team and play a key role in driving the commercial strategy. He will be responsible for growing Amadeus’ distribution business and supporting key industry partnerships in the region. Gay’s appointment is an integral step in Amadeus’ focus on the New Zealand market, which has already seen a substantial increase in staff and resources in recent months.
Tony Carter, Managing Director, Amadeus IT Pacific said: “Andrew has a proven track record as a successful business front-runner in the Pacific travel sector. He is well-known for growing businesses, building relationships and leading teams. With Andrew at the helm, I’m extremely confident about Amadeus’ success in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands over the coming years”.
Prior to accepting this role, Andrew held several senior executive roles within the travel industry most recently as Managing Director of STA Travel, New Zealand and Asia. During that role he managed teams in New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Japan. Prior to this, he was a founding Director and General Manager of First Travel Group.
Commenting on his appointment, Andrew Gay said: “I am excited to be joining the great team at Amadeus which I believe is at the forefront of the global travel technology industry and provides leading solutions, content and services to our customers. I look forward to maintaining strong relationships with existing customers and growing Amadeus’ footprint across the region”.
4. Dimitri Courtelis appointed new Chief Financial Officer of airberlin group
Source: Michael Hübner
Dimitri Courtelis has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of airberlin group with effect from 15th September 2016. The financial and aviation expert joined Germany’s second largest airline as Deputy Chief Financial Officer back in November 2015.
Dr Hans-Joachim Körber, Chairman of the Board of Directors: “Dimitri Courtelis has long-standing experience in the international financial sector. He strengthens the Management Board at airberlin with his extensive expertise; he has already made important first steps towards the restructuring of airberlin”.
The economics graduate and qualified chartered accountant began his professional career as an external auditor in South Africa, moving on as an advisor with Ernst & Young Australia. From 2009 to 2011, Courtelis worked at Deloitte in Dubai within the advisory and forensic teams. He then moved to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In 2013, he was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer at Air Serbia, which is headquartered in Belgrade. In this role, Dimitri had a significant impact in the turnaround of this company.
Arnd Schwierholz has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of airberlin group at his own request in order to pursue new challenges outside the aviation industry.
“We would like to thank Arnd Schwierholz for his work and consistent commitment. Since joining airberlin, he has significantly contributed to the continuous development of the ongoing restructuring process at airberlin, navigating the company through a challenging market environment.”
5. Lee Kim Shin joins Singapore Airlines’ board as independent director
Singapore Airlines is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Lee Kim Shin to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
Directors Christina Ong and Lucien Wong Yuen Kuai are retiring from the Singapore Airlines Board with effect from the same day. Mrs Ong and Mr Wong both joined the Board on 1 September 2007. Singapore Airlines wishes to thank them for their invaluable contributions to the Company’s development over the past nine years.
Mr Lee, 55, has 30 years of experience in the legal profession and is Managing Partner of Allen & Gledhill LLP. He first held that position between August 2012 and December 2013, returning to it in early 2015 after a one-year post as a Judicial Commissioner with the High Court of Singapore.
Mr Lee has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from the National University of Singapore. He is a Member of the Governing Board of Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, and a Member of the Governing Council of the Singapore Institute of Directors. Previous directorships had been with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, Community Cancer Fund, SIA Engineering Company, Singex Holdings and Wildlife Reserves Singapore, among others.
Mr Lee will join the Board Nominating Committee and Board Safety & Risk Committee.