Press Release
For Immediate Release
16 August 2007
ACTE Adds Two New Seats To International Board of Directors
Alexandria, VA -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ (ACTE) international Board of Directors has added the voice of two regions -- Latin America and the Middle East and Africa-- with the recent election of Ricardo Ferreira and Johanna Mukoki to the organization’s governing body. According to an announcement made today by ACTE President Richard Crum, the newly elected leaders represent the association's commitment to objective regional representation and direct guidance from a global constituency.
“Ricardo Ferreira and Johanna Mukoki will play a key role in charting future ACTE policy and in determining the way we can best fulfill the travel objectives of companies in their respective regions,” said Crum. “They will also help us meeting the needs of corporations engaged in business to travel to those regions. ACTE policy requires each participating region to be fully consulted and involved with program development and deployment on a global scale. The best way to accomplish this is have each region represented at the board level.”
Ricardo Ferreira is a 28-year veteran of the international business travel industry and Director of Alatur. He served with VASP Brazilian Airlines, Sheraton Hotels, and the Thomas Cook Agency in Brazil (acquired by Amex in 1996), in a number of senior positions.
Based in Brazil, Ferreira is a strong advocate of developing advanced uniform standards throughout Latin America, and in promoting new best practices and stronger networking opportunities (relationship building) through more frequent forums and educational events in the region.
“This will be challenging as this region extends from Tierra del Fuego to the Rio Grande,” said Ferreira. “A dozen national cultures must be considered as well as best practices that incorporate dozens of corporate cultures. This can only be accomplished through a series of ongoing educational events that have a direct link to each other. Furthermore, the curriculum cannot be construed as imported U.S. policy.”
Managing Director of Travel with Flair, Johanna Mukoki has been in the business travel industry for 11 years, through some of the most pivotal developments impacting the profession in South Africa. Her company has emerged as a leader in the region’s used of travel management technology and runs a paperless back-office operation.
Mukoki has had a diverse career as a model and as a talk show host with a programme on SABC2 titled, “Women On The Move.” The show focused on successful businesswomen from diverse industries. She was also nominated for the Successful Women in Business or Government Award in 2006.
“The real power of a multinational association like ACTE lies in its ability to build on the strength of each region, and to incorporate these strengths in a strategic plan. Growth for ACTE must means growth for each region in terms of technology, economic opportunity for the corporation or supplier company, and professional advancement for the individual member,” said Mukoki. “This is possible through an ongoing regional educational program, with some global objectives, driven by an international board.”
The need for an additional board of directors election was prompted by ACTE member request to add Latin America as a new region and to make Europe a stand-alone region. Announced at the Miami conference, the decision to separate Europe from the Middle East and Africa was prompted by a growing number of European issues (GDS, privacy, service, etc.) that required a separate focus of concentration. Adding Latin America as a new region was the next step in a logical progression following rapid membership growth and a corresponding increase in educational programmes.
These two new board of director seats raises the ratio of Non-U.S. directors to U.S directors to 64/36.
For more information, contact:
Debbie Flynn
CEO
Brighter Group
The Pod, London's Vertical Gateway
Bridges Wharf, Battersea
London SW11 3BE England
T: 020 7326 9880
F: 020 7326 9890
E: [email protected]
W: www.brightergroup.com