American Express Business Travel Announced New Client Wins and Renewals Increased by 73 Percent in First 60 Days of 2008
Leadership Team Realigned to Support Growth and Customer
Priorities
NEW YORK & PARIS--(Business Wire)--
American Express Business Travel, a global industry leader in
business travel management, today announced a series of recent new
customer wins and contract extensions across a broad range of industry
groups and geographies. To further capitalize on its early first
quarter sales acquisitions momentum and to ensure that client needs
continue to be met on every level, the Company also announced key
reinforcements to its leadership structure, effective immediately.
During the first 60 days of 2008, new sales wins and renewals
(signed contracts and letters of intent) increased 73 percent,
compared to the same period of the previous year.
Contributing to the strong sales growth through new contracts or
extended agreements are well-known household name companies and
various public sector organizations. These include Bentley, Bobcat
Company and GEA Dutch Holding from the automotive and manufacturing
sectors; Rabobank a full-range financial services provider; Cadbury
from the food industry; global IT services provider CGI Group, Inc.;
Medical Counsel of Canada; Rip Curl, a French clothing manufacturer;
Manpower, a global staffing agency; Conseil de l'Europe, Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency, and Swedish Prison and
Probation Service & Transport Service from the public sphere; and GSM
Association from the wireless industry.
"We are seeing that in today's environment, businesses across
various industry sectors and geographies recognize the value of our
brand and turn to us to provide the technology, expert insight and
customer service they need to generate cost savings and optimize their
business travel investment," said Charles Petruccelli, president of
American Express Global Travel Services. "Although economic stresses
have placed pressure on the bottom-line for corporations worldwide,
business travel remains an essential component of effectively managing
and growing a business. Companies can keep travelers on the road by
managing travel costs in a smart and careful way."
Leadership Alignment Supports Growth Initiatives
American Express Business Travel has aligned its senior leadership
team to provide a continued focus on growth while enhancing existing
customer and supplier relationships. Additionally, the team will focus
on continued innovation to set the pace in this dynamic marketplace.
As a result, the following key appointments have been made:
Priyan Fernando, Chief Operating Officer also becomes President
overseeing our Customer Group, reporting to Petruccelli. In addition
to retaining his current responsibility for leading Global Operations,
Fernando now adds Client Management and Advisory Services to his
portfolio.
Andy McGraw is appointed to the newly created position of senior
vice president and general manager, Worldwide Sales. In this role,
McGraw will lead the American Express Business Travel sales
organization across all regions, markets and industry segments
worldwide.
Lisa Durocher is promoted to senior vice president, Marketing and
Innovation. She will continue to lead all Marketing, Innovation,
Product Management and Online strategy.
Andrew Winterton retains his role as senior vice president and
general manager, Global Supplier Relations, Partner Network and Latin
America and the Caribbean.
"The new alignment of our senior leadership team will fuel our
growth potential and position us to achieve our target goals in 2008
and beyond," commented Petruccelli. "Organizing our leadership this
way allows for greater focus on innovation, acquisition and
outstanding customer service and speaks to the competitive
differentiation in our value proposition and the benefits we provide
to our customers."
About American Express Business Travel
American Express Business Travel
(www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel), a division of the American
Express Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realize the
greatest possible value from their investment in travel through
increased cost savings, outstanding customer service and greater spend
control. For small businesses, medium-sized enterprises and
multinational corporations, American Express Business Travel provides
a combination of industry-leading booking technology, travel
management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier
negotiation support, and customer service available online and
offline, around the world.
American Express operates one of the world's largest travel agency
networks with over 2,200 travel service locations in over 140
countries and territories worldwide. The Company processed $24.6
billion in global travel sales in 2007.
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a
diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company
founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards,
Travelers Cheques, travel, and business services.
American Express Business Travel
Tracy Paurowski, 212-640-8409
tracy.j.paurowski@aexp.com
or
Elizabeth Fluke, 212-446-1887
efluke@sloanepr.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
