Advito, the global consulting unit of BCD Travel, has announced that
travel industry veteran Julie Thomte has joined its team as vice president of consulting, charged with overseeing strategic client relationships and the expansion of service offerings. Most recently senior manager of corporate travel at Freescale Semiconductor in Austin, Thomte brings a wealth of experience in developing and leading multinational corporate travel programs to her new position.
MEDEX Global Group has named Susan Torroella as chief operating officer. Torroella joins MEDEX from Columbia MedCom Group, where she was CEO for seven years. Charged with leading the expanding company's 24-hour, global operations, Torroella brings with her more than 20 years of strategic management, marketing and sales experience in the health care industry.
FCm Travel Solutions has appointed David Newington as the new general manager for FCm Singapore. Immediately prior to his appointment, Newington was director of global sales for FCm North America and business development manager for FCm's USA West Coast operation.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has announced the retirements of Rob Deliberto and Scott Guerrero, both executive vice presidents with the company. While each is now retired from his official position, both will continue to assist CWT with specific initiatives during 2009. In his most recent role as EVP of global supplier yield management, Deliberto led the development of yield management and advertising strategies and was responsible for maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with airlines, hotels, and car rental suppliers. Deliberto has served as vice president of NBTA's Allied Leadership Council since 2005 and will continue in that capacity until his term expires in August 2009.
Guerrero joined CWT through its 2004 acquisition of Maritz Corporate Travel, where he had served in a number of leadership positions. At Carlson, he was first named vice president and COO, then was promoted to president of CW Government Travel (CWGT) in the Americas.
Kayak.com has appointed Giorgos Zacharia, co-founder and chief technology officer of Open Ratings supply risk solutions, as Chief Scientist. Zacharia will apply his expertise in predictive modeling and machine learning to improve speed, personalization and general efficiency across all Kayak.com brands. He will be based at the company's engineering headquarters in Concord, MA.
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts has tapped Steve Halliday its new executive vice president of development for North America, effective immediately. In this new role, he will focus on hotel acquisitions and procurement of management contracts to drive the development of Pan Pacific's brand presence in the region. Halliday has been with Pan Pacific since 1984.
Delta Hotels has named Hank Stackhouse CEO. He became president of the Canadian hotel company in July 2006, and his role expanded in December 2007 with the additional responsibility of chief operating officer.
Pegasus Solutions has named Joseph "Bill" Nicholson chief operating officer and president of reservation and distribution services. Nicholson was the second employee hired during Pegasus' start-up phase 20 years ago and stayed with the company for 15 years. Before his return, Nicholson has worked as a technology and management consultant and president of SynXis. Nicholson succeeds Mike Kistner, who filled the roles Nicholson has assumed until being named CEO in June 2008.
Seagate Hospitality Group, an independent hotel and resort management company, has named Helmut Rueckert president. Rueckert will be working to grow the company nationally by pursuing management contracts and partnerships, and adding properties to the company's portfolio. Seagate's properties include the reconstructed Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach, FL, and the Seagate Hotel & Spa, currently under construction in Delray Beach.
Teddy's Transportation System, a privately-held company based in Norwalk, CT, has passed ownership to company president and CEO Charles Wisniewski and vice presidents Linda Bento and Ted Wisniewski. The trio has been in top management at the firm for decades. The firm was started by the trio's parents in 1978.
LOT Polish Airlines says Dariusz Nowak has resigned as CEO. The airline's board delegated one of its members, Sebastian Mikosz, to replace Nowak. Also, Jacek Krawczyk was named board chairman. The former chair, Jacek Ksen, was dismissed.
Amadeus has announced that Victor Pynn, former chief operating officer at TRX, has joined the company as senior vice president of its Multinational Customer Group serving the Americas region. In this newly created position, Pynn will be responsible for sales and account management for Amadeus' efforts related to travel agency IT; corporate travel; large and multinational travel agencies; and online travel agencies in the US, Canada, and Latin America. He will be based in Chicago.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has appointed Mary Ellen Callahan as the department's chief privacy officer. For more than 10 years, Callahan has specialized in privacy, security, data protection, consumer protection and e-commerce law, most recently as a partner at Hogan & Hartson.
Marriott International has made three sales and marketing appointments in Europe: Theo Ocks for Western Europe, Vicky Varfis for Eastern Europe and Iris Baugatz for Central Europe. All three area directors of sales and marketing are based in Eschborn, Germany, and are together responsible for nearly 100 properties in 22 countries across five lodging brands.
Rezidor Hotel Group has named Han Oldenburger regional director of the Radisson Blu and Park Inn brands in Ireland. Oldenburger, who is Dutch, has broad international hospitality experience, having previously held managerial positions in Hong Kong, Singapore and in many European countries.
Fisher Property Group, a real estate holding company, has named Peter Willis senior vice president to spearhead hotel acquisitions and business development. Willis was senior vice president at Kor Group, where he played a leading role in sourcing, negotiating and underwriting hotel investments and management contract prospects, in addition to supporting strategic acquisitions and corporate planning efforts.
Crestline Hotels & Resorts has appointed Allison Harke as director of sales for the Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul City Center. She was most recently based in Chicago as the director of sales for worldwide accounts with Hilton.
Doubletree in Tarrytown, NY, has named Erica Ynoa as sales manager. Prior to joining the Doubletree, Ynoa was sales manager with Fitzpatrick Hotels in midtown Manhattan.
Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Alex White to be its director of training. White was previously the director of recruitment for Benchmark Hospitality, joining the company's home office following 15 years of experience in the human resources profession. This included serving Benchmark at the property level as director of human resources for Hotel Contessa in San Antonio.
