Press Release

For Immediate Release
9 February 2010

ACTE Appoints New Regional Chair, Europe – Yves Galimidi, Global Travel Purchaser, IKEA, Former ACTE Country Champion, Benelux

Brussels, Belgium --

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is pleased to announce that during a 20 January Board of Directors meeting,  Belgium based Yves Galimidi, Global Travel Purchaser, IKEA was unanimously appointed to a two year term as ACTE Regional Chair, Europe. Previous to his appointment, Galimidi was serving as ACTE Country Champion, Benelux and replaces past European Regional Chair, Jerome Drevon-Barreaux, Group Travel Manager, Capgemini, who served the maximum two consecutive terms as Regional Chair. Dreveon-Barreaux will continue in a leadership position within ACTE as the Country Champion, France.  

In his member volunteer capacity, Galimidi will work closely with ACTE’s European based Board Members including Brian Donnelly, Regional Director, EMEA & Latin America, FCm Travel Solutions (ACTE’s European Board Representative), Chris Crowley, Senior Vice President, Sales – EMEA & APAC, BCD Travel (ACTE’s President-Elect), Jo Lloyd, Sourcing Director, Travel, InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) (At-Large Board Member) and Lutz Stammnitz, President, Siemens (SI) (At-Large Board Member). In addition, Galimidi will coordinate with the immediate past European Regional Chair, Drevon-Barreaux to ensure all programmes, products and services underway or upcoming are transitioned smoothly.

“I am thrilled to be offered this exciting opportunity. Jerome and previous Regional Chairs have solidified ACTE’s place in Europe over the past 10 years, and I look forward to continuing their great work,” commented Galimidi. “It is now more important than ever for us to work together with our members and volunteers to forge new paths, build new relationships, and find collective and creative solutions to unprecedented challenges.”

The Regional Chair leads ACTE’s European Country Champion programme, which is made up of member volunteers and focuses on delivering outstanding education programmes and benefits that provide value to ACTE members across Europe. Current

ACTE Europe Country Champions include:

•    Belgium – open
•    Finland – Arja Niilekselä-Tiainen, Corporate Travel, Meetings & Facility Manager, Global Indirect Sourcing, Cargotec Corporation (CGCBV)
•    France – Jerome Drevon-Barreaux, Group Travel Manager, Capgemini (CAP)
•    Germany - Ralph Ruckgaber, General Procurement - Travel, IBM (IBM)
•    Italy – Diane Laschet, Managing Director, AirPlus International
•    Netherlands – Arthur Sollet, Travel Services Manager Europe Cluster, Shell International (RDS)
•    Russia – Irina Kuznetsova, Head of Administration, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)
•    Spain – open
•    Sweden – Cathrine Lundberg, Principal & Senior Consultant, CMM Consulting
•    Switzerland – Michael Casati, Head Group Travel Management, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. (RUKN)
•    United Kingdom - open

“ACTE relies heavily on the contribution of volunteers to make our educational programmes and member benefits pertinent to local markets,” Richard Crum, ACTE President, said. “We welcome Yves to the association’s leadership, and look forward to his recommendations and insight. He will be an invaluable asset to the continued success of our programmes in Europe.”

Galimidi joins fellow Regional Chairs Georgie Farmer, Asia Travel Manager, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and Imran Changezi, Director, Corporate Sales, Jumeirah Group, both of whom were unanimously appointed to second terms as ACTE Regional Chairs, for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa respectively; and Gillian McCormack, Manager, Business Development, American Express Business Travel (AXP), and Mario Hidalgo, Manager, Multinational Customers, Latin America, Amadeus, both currently serving the second year as Regional Chairs in Canada and Latin America.

Through the efforts of ACTE members and partners throughout Europe, ACTE is pleased to announce the following upcoming events:

•    Executive Forum – 22 February 2010  - Brussels – Eyes Wide Open - Embracing Uncertainty in Business Travel - in partnership with the Belgian Association of Travel Management (BATM)
•    Webinar – 25 February 2010  - Online Unlocking Potential: The European Corporate Travel Leader Perspective Webcast
•    Executive Forum – 23 March 2010 - Stuttgart - Licht ins Dunkel - in partnership with the German Business Travel Association (VDR)
•    Executive Forum – 13 April 2010  - Moscow
•    ACTE/MS-UK Partner Event – 20 April 2010  - London - Corporate Travel & Expense Management
•    Executive Forum – TBD April 2010  - Amsterdam – in partnership with the Dutch Corporate Only Business Travel Association (CORTAS)

For more information on ACTE Europe, the volunteer leaders, upcoming events including the Global Education Conference in Berlin (3-5 October 2010), please visit the ACTE Europe website at http://www.acte.org/regions/europe/index.php.

ABOUT ACTE:
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) represents the global business travel industry through its international advocacy efforts, executive level educational programs, and independent industry research. ACTE's membership consists of senior travel industry executives from 82 countries representing the €463 billion business travel industry. Our members serve more than 12 million business travelers worldwide. With the support of sponsors from every major segment of the business travel industry, ACTE develops and delivers educational programs in key business centers throughout the world. ACTE has representation in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org.

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