Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry’s movers and shakers!
1. Introducing airberlin’s new CFO
Arnd Schwierholz will be taking over as airberlin’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from April this year.
He has already held the position Deputy CFO at Germany’s second largest airline since the end of October 2014.
Schwierholz takes over from Ulf Hüttmeyer, who has had the role of the Chief Financial Officer for nine years and will now work in a new position with enhanced
responsibilities for Etihad Airways.
Arnd Schwierholz’ professional background includes positions within UBS Investment Bank, experience as a company founder and as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions for
Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Before joining airberlin Arnd Schwierholz was CFO North America for LSG Sky Chefs, the catering subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
2. Victoria gets a new A&K sales rep
Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent appoints Kate Hudson as its new Regional Sales Manager VIC based in Melbourne.
Kate has joined A&K from the U.K. where she worked in the travel industry for eight years with UK adventure travel operators The Imaginative Traveller and Dragoman.
Congratulations Kate.
3. Uniworld’s new sales manager
Uniworld is pleased to announce the appointment of Bianca Robertson to the role of Sales Manager.
Bianca joins Uniworld with extensive experience formerly working with Flight Centre Travel Group for six years where she most recently served as Assistant Team Leader at Escape Travel Malvern, Victoria.
“She brings with her a wealth of industry experience and is looking forward to continuing to strengthen our relationships with our important retailer partner relationships in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.”
John Molinaro, Uniworld General Manager
4. Luxperience’s new appointments
Luxperience is hitting top gear and to help achieve its impeccable standards announces two key staff appointments: David Paterson joins as the senior sales and sponsorships manager and Rachelle del Rosario takes on the business development manager role.
David recently moved to Sydney from London, where he gained over 10 years of experience in the exhibition and event industry including four years project managing the ILTM portfolio.
David will be responsible for securing the ideal exhibitors from across the globe. His focus will be on the high end experiential products which are the current travel trend for the luxury traveller.
‘For me, luxury experiential travel is all about personalisation and authenticity,’ says David Paterson. ‘The world has become a smaller place and travellers are now more than ever seeking life changing experiences.’
Rachelle will handle the exhibitor relationship development with the aim of increasing the exhibitor numbers and ensuring exhibitor satisfaction. She is adept at building solid, trusted client relationships. She has a wealth of experience in media sales having worked on some of Australia’s leading and innovative titles such as Travel + Leisure, The Sunday Magazine, Q Weekend, Delicious, Donna Hay and, most recently, Luxury Travel Magazine.
5. Stefan Pichler joins airberlin
As of today, his first day as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airberlin group, Stefan Pichler is now responsible for all companies and brands in the group. He was
appointed by the Board of Directors on 3 November 2014.
His first week will be characterised by a number of meetings with the employees in Berlin, the group’s traditional hub. There will also be political talks as well as meetings with industry representatives.
The second major site, Dusseldorf, is already on the schedule for Monday of the following week. There, too, it is the employees who will have the first opportunity to get to know the new CEO.
Stefan Pichler is undertaking this task with the aim of stimulating the restructuring of the group, thereby ensuring sustainable and long-term profitability for airberlin.
With 25 years’ experience in the aviation industry, this renowned expert has unique experience managing low-cost, charter and classic airlines with profitable route networks.
Up through the end of January he worked for Fiji Airways, where he implemented a turnaround programme to lead the airline back to profitability. Before joining Fiji Airways he was Managing Director and Chief Executive of Jazeera Airways, where his successful restructuring programme helped push the airline to profit margins of over
30 percent.
As Chief Commercial Officer & Deputy CEO at Virgin Blue Airlines he developed the company into one of the most profitable airlines in the world in 2006 and 2007.
At the same time he also founded V Australia, where he worked until 2009 as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Before that Stefan Pichler was Chairman and CEO of Thomas Cook AG. He has also held a variety of senior positions at Lufthansa, most recently as Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Board.