Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry’s movers and shakers!
1. Star Alliance gets a new Australian chair
Michael Zorbas – Air New Zealand’s Commercial Strategy and Alliances Manager, Australia – has been appointed as Chair of the Star Alliance Country Steering Committee.
Zorbas brings more than 12 years airline experience to his new role, having joined Air New Zealand’s international division in 2002 as a business analyst.
Since then he has held a variety of senior management positions within the airline, including Commercial Operations Manager and National Sales Manager (Northern/Western Region).
As Country Steering Committee Chair, Zorbas will lead Star Alliance network activities in Australia, including liaison with industry partners, and promotion of the Alliance’s global network and innovative services.
He will also oversee Star Alliance’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in Australia, including its on-going support of the Children’s Medical Research Institute – an independent Australian organisation conducting world-class genetic research to help prevent and treat childhood diseases.
2. Etihad appoints new General Manager in South Africa
Etihad Airways has appointed John Friel as General Manager for South Africa.
Based in Johannesburg, John is responsible for leading Etihad Airways’ commercial operations in South Africa as it continues to grow its presence and operations across the region.
John has a strong understanding of managing the challenges and opportunities within the industry having worked for a number of leading international airlines.
He joined Etihad Airways in June 2014 as Regional Business Development Manager in South Africa.
3. Starwood fills Aus marketing role
Ashley Hansen has stepped into the role of Regional Director for Sales & Marketing and Starwood Sales Organisation in the Pacific.
Ashley returns to Australia after ten years to undertake his dual role, where he will be responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing management within the Pacific, championing some of the region’s most valuable assets.
He will work with and provide strategic guidance to the sales and marketing teams across the entire portfolio of 23 Starwood Hotels & Resorts, ensuring Starwood remains a leader in the market.
Ashley will also oversee Starwood’s Sales Organisation with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and soon to open in Brisbane.
5. Ulf Hüttmeyer joins Etihad
Etihad Airways has announced Ulf Hüttmeyer as its Senior Vice President Finance Equity Partners, effective 1 April 2015.
Mr Hüttmeyer, 41, joins the Abu Dhabi-based airline from airberlin where he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the past nine years.
Mr Hüttmeyer was one of the architects of the 2011 transaction in which Etihad Airways became a minority equity investor in airberlin.
The new role will see Mr Hüttmeyer work closely with Etihad Airways’ equity partner airlines, and lead the profitability analysis in Etihad Airways and build key relationships with global suppliers.
Mr Hüttmeyer, who studied Economics and holds a degree in Business Administration, began his professional career at Commerzbank in 1996.
During this time he worked at Commerzbank South East Asia in Singapore for three and a half years, after which he moved to Berlin as key account manager for the eastern region. At the beginning of 2005, Mr Hüttmeyer was appointed as a Director for Commerzbank.
Mr Hüttmeyer joined airberlin in February 2006 as Chief Financial Officer. He served as an Executive Director of Air Berlin PLC from 2006 to September 30, 2012 and was a member of the Management Board from October 2012.
As SVP Finance Equity Partners, Mr Hüttmeyer will directly report to James Rigney, Etihad Airways’ Chief Financial Officer, and have a matrix reporting line to Bruno Matheu, Etihad Airways’ Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners.
5. American Express GBT grows its tech team
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) made additional leadership appointments including Evan Konwiser as Vice President, Digital Traveler and Christophe Tcheng as Vice President, Core Products and Platform Architecture.
Mr. Konwiser, who was most recently co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Lark Travel Group, and Mr.
Tcheng, who joins GBT from Amadeus Technology Group SA, will work together with newly appointed Chief Technology Officer, Philippe Chereque, on GBT’s overall technology growth strategy and development.
Mr. Konwiser, who is based in New York, will be responsible for traveler-facing technology, such as mobile and the online booking experience.
Mr. Tcheng, who is based in London, will be responsible for the strategy of GBT’s core platforms, such as Point of Sale, Digital Travel Record (DTR), Profile and more.
He will oversee the development and execution of these platforms, as well as data quality and protection, customer satisfaction, the integration of proprietary platforms with GBT’s international network and relationships with third-party technology vendors.