New roles for the industry’s movers and shakers
AirBerlin Group
Dimitri Courtelis has been appointed as chief financial officer of AirBerlin Group. The financial and aviation expert joined Germany’s second largest airline as deputy chief financial officer in November 2015. Courtelis, an 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, he 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.
Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced the appointment of GB Srithar as regional director for South Asia, Middle East and Africa (SAMEA) to be based in Mumbai. Srithar is well acquainted with the India market, having worked in India between April 2010 and December 2013 as area director, South Asia, STB. Prior to his appointment as regional director, he headed the brand campaigns team at STB headquarter’s marketing group. Under this new role, one of his key responsibilities will be to oversee STB’s leisure, and BT and MICE travel promotions, marketing and developmental efforts in the SAMEA region. His office will work closely with travel trade and non-trade partners to promote Singapore as the destination of choice among Indian travellers.
HG Travels
HG Travel has appointed Gerben Bloemendaal as managing director of its office in Myanmar. Dutch national, Bloemendaal has over 15 years of travel industry experience, 10 of which have been in Southeast Asia. He has worked in senior management positions for DMCs in Thailand and Vietnam before joining the HG Travel leadership team. HG Travel currently handles 50,000 inbound arrivals from international markets with Europe, Russia, China, Australia and the US as key source markets.
American Airlines
American Airlines has appointed Alison Taylor as senior vice president, global sales. Taylor will be joining American later this month from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where she most recently served in a similar role. Under her new role, Taylor will lead American’s sales team and be responsible for developing all sales and distribution policies worldwide. Additionally, Taylor will manage the airline’s relationships with corporate customers and travel agencies.
Whereas Robert Isom has been appointed as the new president. Isom began his airline career at Northwest Airlines in 1991. He joined US Airways as chief operating officer in 2007 and led the turnaround of US Airways’ operating performance. He was selected to become chief operating officer of American Airlines in 2013 after the merger of American and US Airways.
Asian Aviation Capital (AAC)
AirAsia’s aircraft leasing unit Asia Aviation Capital (AAC) has appointed Stéphane Daillencourt as president and CEO. Daillencourt, a French national, has over 30 years of experience in buying, selling, financing and leasing aircraft, most recently at GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of GE. As GECAS’ executive vice president of financing operations (Singapore), Daillencourt has been leading the team in charge of all purchase and leaseback transactions as well as aircraft sales to investors.
Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific
Jerome Thil has been appointed as vice president of marketing for Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, Jerome will lead marketing for Sabre Travel Network’s GDS and travel distribution technology solutions, serving agencies and suppliers across Asia Pacific.Thil will report to Wade Jones, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for Sabre Travel Network. Thil has held a number of senior global positions in travel distribution, most recently with Amadeus, and led the launch and acquisition of technology startups across Europe and Asia.
TAG Aviation Asia
TAG Aviation Asia has appointed Jolie Howard as CEO. Howard was the first employee to be engaged by TAG Asia when the company commenced its business in the region in 2006. Serving as the director of business development until 2013, she has helped to build the managed aircraft fleet to over 30 aircraft. For the past three years, she has been working as regional vice president of CIT’s Business Aircraft Finance in Asia.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines has appointed Lee Kim Shin to its board as an independent non-executive director. Lee 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. His 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.
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore has appointed Rajan Malhotra as director of sales and marketing. In his new role, Malhotra will head the hotel’s sales, events, revenue management, reservations, marketing and corporate communications divisions. His key responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of hotel sales and marketing strategies, including revenue forecasting and developing business plans, in addition to the recruitment, training and managing of the hotel’s sales team in order to maximise revenue opportunities and property goals. He brings with him 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry.