This is a roundup of announcements related to people moves and business expansions in travel in May 2018.
Wednesday 30 May 2018
Williams takes chair at Skyscanner
- Skyscanner has announced CEO Gareth Williams will take up the role of chairperson while current CTO Bryan Dove takes over as CEO. Williams is to focus on the company's long-term vision. Skyscanner was acquired by Ctrip in late 2016.
Tuesday 29 May 2018Redeam CEO
- The tours and activities technology specialist has appointed Melanie Ryan Meador as CEO. Meador was previously COO and founder of Meadors Masters Foundation. Kevin McLaughlin, founding CEO of Redeam, will stay on with the company as an advisor. Redeam announced Series A funding of $7.7 million in early March.
Thursday 24 May 2018Hotelbeds ancillary shift
- The Hotelbeds Group restructure continues apace following its acquisition and integration of GTA and Tourico. Javier Arévalo has been named as Director of Ancillary Bank. He was previously managing director of its "Tours and Activities Bank", which has been renamed as Ancillary Bank now that the integration of a wider range of ancillary product from GTA and Tourico into the Hotelbeds Group platform has been completed.
Monday 21 May 2018Stellar appointment at Kiwi.com
- Online travel agent Kiwi.com has appointed David Pavlík as its new chief information officer. He joins from SpaceX, the manufacturer, designer and operator of rockets and spacecraft, where he worked as software automation program manager. At Kiwi.com he will oversee IT strategy and systems. His CV also includes time with Microsoft and Netflix.
Wednesday 16 May 2018B2C shake-up at dnata Travel Europe
- dnata Travel, part of Emirates Group, has a new boss for its consumer-facing brands in Europe which includes OTAs Travel Republic and Netflights. John Bevan, who is currently in charge of dnata's B2B travel operations in Europe, is now overseeing the B2C business as well, taking over from Andy Washington. Washington joined dnata from Expedia late 2016 where he was MD for Northern Europe and for ebookers in EMEA.
Tuesday 15 May 2018Expedia vet replaces Mooney at Hostelworld
- Gary Morrison, currently head of retail operations for Brand Expedia Group, is taking over as the new CEO for Hostelworld. He replaces Feargal Mooney, who will step down after Hostelworld's AGM in July. Morrison has spent the past seven years at Expedia, with his CV also featuring stints at Google, Motorola and Dell. Mooney has been with Hostelworld for sixteen years and held the CEO role for the past eight years where he oversaw its IPO in 2015.
Thursday 10 May, 2018Collinson appoints Caris
- The loyalty and benefits specialist has recruited Paul Caris as chief information officer. Caris has spent the past three years running a technology consultancy.
Wednesday 9 May, 2018CWT checks in Staehler
- The travel management company has appointed Jack Staehler as chief technology officer of RoomIt, its hotel distribution division. Staehler, who will be based in Chicago, has previously held senior technology roles with a number of companies including Cendant Travel and Orbitz.
Tuesday 8 May, 2018Agoda promotes from within
- Booking Holdings has promoted John Brown to CEO of Agoda. Brown has been COO of the Asia-based travel business since 2014. Agoda current CEO Robert Rosenstein becomes chairman as well as special advisor to Booking Holdings boss Glenn Fogel.
Thursday 3 May, 2018Hotelbeds Group names director of technology
- Chris Branagan becomes the Director of Technology for HotelBeds Group and gets a seat on the group's executive committee. He was formerly the CTO for GTA and his appointment follows a number of other senior appointments across the group announced in January as part of new structure for the bedbank. Today's release also said that "all of [the group's] bedbank brands – Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays, and GTA – will...be transitioned onto the same technology platform by the close of this year."
Wednesday 2 May, 2018Chrome River appoints CTO
- Sunil Kayiti joins the travel expense specialist as chief technology officer and will lead a team of more than 100 engineers. Kayiti previously held roles with Eze Software Group and Fidelity.
Musement boosts US team
- The Italy-based travel discovery platform has recruited Taylor Withrington as account director for the west coast. She will help build new supplier relationships as wells as strengthen existing partnerships. Withrington previously held roles for Viator and more recently aRes Travel.