Star Alliance Strengthens Leadership Team with Focus on Customer Experience
In a strategic move to further enhance its customer experience, Star Alliance, the world’s leading global airline alliance, has announced key management appointments. These appointments underscore the alliance’s commitment to delivering a seamless experience for its member airline customers, maximizing the benefits of the Star Alliance network.
New Leadership for a Seamless Customer Journey
Ambar Franco joins Star Alliance as Vice President, Customer Experience, bringing significant expertise from the travel industry. Her primary focus will be leading the development and implementation of initiatives that enhance the entire customer journey, from booking to post-travel loyalty. Franco previously held senior customer experience roles at the renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Luc Lachoix has been appointed Vice President, Digital & Technology. Lachoix will oversee IT architecture, operations, and security, while also supporting the IT needs of Star Alliance’s Customer Experience and Loyalty business areas. His extensive experience in the airline industry, including leadership positions at prominent travel technology companies like Amadeus and Sabre, positions him well for this role.
Renato Ramos, Vice President, Strategy, will drive Star Alliance’s strategic initiatives, business planning, and cross-functional collaboration. With seven years of experience at Star Alliance, including his previous role as Director, Loyalty, Ramos brings a seasoned aviation expertise honed through previous roles at Avianca and LATAM Airlines.
Gayatheri Silvakumer takes on the role of Vice President, People and Culture, spearheading the implementation of Star Alliance’s human capital and cultural development vision. She will focus on talent retention and organizational development, leveraging her experience in senior HR roles across various industries, including organizations such as McCann Worldgroup, Bombardier, and Rolls-Royce.
A Vision for a Seamlessly Connected World
Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, expressed his delight in working with this diverse leadership team. He emphasized their combined extensive experience, both within and outside the aviation industry, as crucial to accelerating the alliance’s mission of delivering a seamless customer experience at key touch points during their travels. Panagiotoulias highlighted the team’s shared passion for the vision and its execution, always with the member airlines’ end-customers in mind.
About Star Alliance
Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, Star Alliance was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, the alliance has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.
The Star Alliance network currently offers 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in 189 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.
Star Alliance Member Airlines:
* Aegean Airlines
* Air Canada
* Air China
* Air India
* Air New Zealand
* ANA
* Asiana Airlines
* Austrian
* Avianca
* Brussels Airlines
* Copa Airlines
* Croatia Airlines
* EGYPTAIR
* Ethiopian Airlines
* EVA Air
* LOT Polish Airlines
* Lufthansa
* Shenzhen Airlines
* Singapore Airlines
* South African Airways
* SWISS
* TAP Air Portugal
* THAI
* Turkish Airlines
* United
