New CEOs at Hotelplan Suisse and Interhome Group Two country organizations within the Hotelplan Group are getting a new CEO: Kurt Eberhard has been appointed CEO Hotelplan Suisse and Koni Iten CEO Interhome Group. The current CEO Thomas Stirnimann is relinquishing his post at Hotelplan Suisse after nearly seven years, having also held a dual role as CEO Hotelplan Group since 2012. He will thus be able to dedicate himself entirely to the activities of the growing Hotelplan Group. Koni Iten is taking over as CEO Interhome Group with immediate effect, and will remain acting CIO Hotelplan Group until a successor has been found. In order to strengthen the focus on the strategic orientation of the six business units in the Hotelplan Group, CEO Thomas Stirnimann has decided to appoint Kurt Eberhard as the new CEO Hotelplan Suisse. As a new member of the management board, Pino Andreano is succeeding Kurt Eberhard as Director Touroperating Longhaul, Specialists & Cruises Hotelplan Suisse with immediate effect. After successfully heading the Interhome Group in an acting capacity for the last seven months, Koni Iten has been fully appointed to the CEO role by the management board. Koni Iten remains responsible for ICT matters until succession planning for his previous CIO role has been completed. The Hotelplan board of directors has approved the change in management role of both CEOs. Furthermore, Travelwindow Group CEO Inka Nobel will report directly to Thomas Stirnimann from 1 November 2014. Organizational development at Hotelplan Suisse The travel industry is in a continuing state of structural change, which demands of Hotelplan Suisse constant, flexible and near-term organizational adjustment. As a result, tour operating will be divided into the sectors “Shorthaul, Beach & Cities” and the independent travel sectors of “Longhaul, Specialists & Cruises”. The primary aim of the organizational adjustment is to account for the constant changes in the market environment. The new structure will not involve job reductions. This organizational adjustment will be implemented gradually and completed by the 2014/2015 winter season. Kurt Eberhard (54) entered the tourism industry as a tour guide and Head of Sales at Kuoni Switzerland, followed by a number of different positions at Hotelplan in Switzerland and France and as a purchaser at Universal Safari Tours in Nairobi. In 1994, he launched the Schaffhausen-based Let’s Go Tours. Kurt Eberhard has been a member of the management board and Director Touroperating Specialists, Cities & Cruises Hotelplan Suisse since 2010. “I am delighted that Kurt Eberhard is succeeding me as CEO Hotelplan Suisse and wish him all the best and every success in his new post. He knows the company inside out and I am confident that he will continue to lead Hotelplan Suisse in the right direction with the new strategic division in tour operating,” says Thomas Stirnimann. “I will now be able to concentrate fully on the growing Hotelplan Group and continue to develop the group’s individual business units,” he adds. “I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and will embrace my new challenge as CEO with the respect it deserves. I am also delighted to welcome Pino Andreano as a member of the management board and wish him all the best in his new role,” says Kurt Eberhard. Pino Andreano (43) launched his career in tourism at ESCO in Basel in 1998 and held a number of different posts at Hotelplan Suisse. Among other activities, he was responsible for the production of city trips, wellness and Autoplan products as well as for theme parks. He has been Product Director Europe/North America/Oceania Hotelplan Suisse since 2010 and completed an Executive Master of Business Administration degree this year. “I am looking forward to my new role and am confident that the team and I will master the challenges,“ says Pino Andreano. Koni Iten (57) spent 11 years as Head of IT at the American commodities trading firm Phibro before launching his own company ITCO Informatic AG in 1990. After moving into tourism in 1994, he held posts including that of CIO at Kuoni until 2006. He subsequently reactivated his company and undertook IT consulting mandates for a number of trading firms. He has been the Hotelplan Group CIO and a member of the management board since 2010. “I am delighted to pass the CEO baton at Interhome Group to Koni Iten, who has already spent more than half a year acquiring in-depth experience in his new role. I wish him and his team continuing success in the vacation home rental business,” says Thomas Stirnimann. “I have had the opportunity to learn the ropes at Interhome in recent months and am delighted that I have been entrusted with the CEO role,” adds Koni Iten.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:04:39 +0000
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