FCM Travel Solutions (FCM) has unveiled a new management structure in Asia to leverage regional expertise and spearhead business expansion. The new management team is headed by Bertrand Saillet, General Manager, Asia, Corporate. Bertrand was previously the General Manager for Southeast Asia, and in his new role, he will be overseeing sales and marketing, account management and operations across the entire region.
The new management team consists of Carlo Bezoari and James Ellis as Sales Director for Southeast Asia and North Asia respectively, Shaun Clear and Caroline Kerr as Operations Director for Southeast Asia and North Asia respectively, Joanna Patterson as Account Director Asia, Agnes Heng as Marketing Director Asia and Terence Eng as Head of IT Solutions Asia. Nathan Zhang will remain as General Manager for China, reporting into Mr Saillet, and will focus on sales acquisitions and management of existing customers.
Over the years, there has been a growing trend for better integration of product roll-out and travel technology, account management and data consolidation. With this new structure focusing on strategic business alignment in Asia, FCM will be able to leverage on shared technology and expertise to deliver world-class travel management solutions to global customers.
Regional customers can also benefit from a seamless experience; having dedicated resources providing global solutions with local expertise. Above these, the new structure enables FCM to be agile and responds better to the ever-changing market demands.
One of the immediate benefits of this change for some existing customers is an integrated approach for account management and implementation. Additionally, the region can expect more customer-focussed technology. One such initiative is the introduction of Sam, FCM’s voice-assisted chatbot in Asia. It will be rolled out simultaneously across Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore in the next few months.
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Sam is a revolutionary pocket travel assistant that is designed to deliver a better travel experience by sending through information based on context, relevance and individual preference, which in turn delivers to customers an even more personalised touch to their business travel.
Bertrand Saillet, General Manager, Asia, said of the new management structure “I am thrilled by this exciting new opportunity to take Asia to the next level. Success is never the hard work of one person, but an entire team. I am extremely confident with this new regional structure in place, we are well positioned to expand quickly in our key Asia markets, meeting the growing expectation from our customers for an integrated regional and global solution from their travel management company. We are more ready than ever to take on larger global corporate customers looking for localised and personalised service, but with a global outlook and approach. With a very experienced team behind us, we will be able to act quickly to scale up any travel program for our customers as their business expands.”
This new management structure is effective from April 1, and comes against the backdrop of a broader change within Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT).
Suyin Lee, previously the Managing Director for Southeast Asia takes on a new role as managing director of the Buffalo Tours destination management company (DMC), whilst David Fraser, the Managing Director of FLT’s Greater China (Mainland China and Hong Kong) will now take on an expanded role of Managing Director Asia (excluding India).
In this new role, Mr Fraser will oversee FCM Travel Solutions, Corporate Traveller, cievents, and Flight Centre brands and businesses in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, together with the FCM Travel partner network in the region.
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Feature image credit: digitalmarket.asia
