New roles for the industry’s movers and shakers
AirAsia X
AirAsia X Berhad has appointed Cheok Huei Shian as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Reporting directly to Benyamin Ismail, acting chief executive officer of AirAsia X Berhad, Huei Shian will be responsible for corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and analysis as well as investor relations. Huei Shian joined AirAsia in 2004 and has held senior leadership roles across the group. Prior to AirAsia, Huei Shian was with Ernst & Young in the Financial and Advisory Service Department.
Kuoni Business Travel India
Clevio Monteiro has been appointed as business head– DVMS, in the Kuoni Business Travel division of Kuoni Travel India. As a part of the divisional leadership team at Kuoni Business Travel, he will grow and establish DVMS’s market share, drive operational profitability through improved processes, deeper market penetration and focus on higher customer satisfaction. He has over 22 years of experience working with travel, aviation and technology solutions companies in various functions. He has worked with companies such as Air Sahara, InterGlobe Technologies and Suvidha Infoserve. In his last assignment with Go Airlines, he managed a pan India responsibility as general manager for their online business and consolidators.
Emirates Group
The Emirates Group has made the following two appointments to its senior management team.
Saeed Mohammed has been appointed as chief executive officer, Emirates Flight Catering. He will be succeeded by Yousuf Mohammad Ali, who has been appointed as senior vice president procurement and logistics for Emirates Airline and Group Services. Mohammed, is now responsible for all business functions at Emirates Flight Catering. He was divisional senior vice president for procurement and logistics where he led a team of over 130 procurement specialists before his promotion.
Ali joined the company in 2011 as vice president procurement and logistics taking on the responsibility for its non-aircraft services for the Emirates Group. He was responsible for planning and implementing the group wide strategy for best practices in procurement and logistics methods to maintain Emirates’ leadership in the industry.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has appointed Ulf Hüttmeyer as senior vice president (SVP) finance equity partners, effective April 1, 2015. The new role will see Hüttmeyer work closely with Etihad Airways’ equity partner airlines, and lead the profitability analysis in Etihad Airways and build key relationships with global suppliers. As SVP finance equity partners, Hüttmeyer will directly report to James Rigney, chief financial officer Etihad Airways, and will have a matrix reporting line to Bruno Matheu of Etihad Airways. Hüttmeyer joined airberlin in February 2006 as chief financial officer. He served as an executive director of airberlin PLC from 2006 to September 30, 2012 and was a member of the management board from October 2012.
Etihad Airways has appointed John Friel as general manager for South Africa. Based in Johannesburg, he is responsible for leading Etihad Airways’ commercial operations in South Africa as it continues to grow its presence and operations across the region. Friel, a 16-year veteran in the travel sector, has a strong understanding of managing the challenges and opportunities within the industry having worked for a number of leading international airlines, where he developed contacts and worked closely with the tourism industry and across the aviation and travel trade, both in South Africa and abroad.
Linda Celestino has joined Etihad Airways as vice president, guest services. In the new role, she will be responsible for 6,000 cabin crew to ensure safe, inspired, consistent and innovative services, both on-board and across the airline’s global lounges. She has more than 25 years of experience in the airline industry having held senior positions in her native Australia and the Middle East, as well as being president of the New York-based Airline Passenger Experience Association.
Etihad Airways has appointed Jordi Porcel Cortes as general manager for Spain. Cortes will be based in Etihad Airways’ new Madrid office, where he will lead the airline’s Spanish commercial operations. The appointment comes as the airline prepares to launch direct flights between Madrid and Abu Dhabi on March 30, 2015. He previously worked for Vueling Airlines, where he served as chief sales officer, responsible for sales for the past three years. Prior to joining Vueling Airlines, he worked in various managerial positions at British Airways, lastly as regional commercial manager Spain, Portugal and Latin America.
airberlin
Arnd Schwierholz will become airberlin’s chief financial officer (CFO), effective April 1, 2015. He has already held the position of 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. Schwierholz’s professional background includes positions within UBS Investment Bank, experience as a company founder and as head of mergers and acquisitions for Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Before joining airberlin he was CFO North America for LSG Sky Chefs.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has made the following two new senior management appointments to focus on its increasing transatlantic services and the development of its international network covering Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and Africa.
Steve Hughes will transition from his role of regional vice president sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to the newly-created post of vice president sales, transatlantic. In his new role, he will be responsible for the airline’s sales in the UK, US, Canada and Mexico, as well as developing Virgin Atlantic’s transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines to offer more choice and benefits for its customers.
In Hong Kong, Neil Vernon has been appointed as vice president sales international, a role that includes his current Asia and Australasia focus and is now extended to incorporate additional responsibility for sales in Dubai, Nigeria and South Africa.
Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg
Sujith Herbert has been appointed as general manager of Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg. Prior to his current role, he was general manager – India head at JHM Interstate India Hotels & Resorts. In his earlier assignments, he has served in different capacities at Hilton in Delhi, Danat Hotels & Resorts in Abu Dhabi, Accor Hotels in Dubai and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi in Dubai. He has spent almost 21 years in the hospitality industry, with a strong background in revenue management.