Carlson Wagonlit Hires Amex Distribution Exec

Carlson Wagonlit Travel today announced that it has named Andrew Winterton, a longtime American Express Business Travel global supplier relations and distribution executive, to the newly created position of president of suppliers, products and technology. He assumed the post June 1.

Winterton replaces CWT global executive committee member Mike Koetting, who served until recently as executive vice president of Global Supplier Management before being promoted to COO of CWT North America. Winterton's new position also will encompass the responsibilities currently held by Loren Brown, chief information officer and executive vice president of technology and product management, who the company said "will leave CWT in July to pursue new interests."

With those responsibilities, Winterton, who reports directly to CWT president and CEO Douglas Anderson and is a member of the company's global executive team, is charged with "increasing productivity and efficiency for CWT and its clients, as well as integrating new products and services that will enable organizations of all sizes to further optimize their business travel programs."

Winterton, who will remain based in the United Kingdom, has more than 20 years of travel and distribution experience. He most recently was senior vice president of global supplier relations and travel services network international, and general manager of Latin America, for American Express Business Travel.

He joined American Express Business Travel in 2000, where he also held the positions of vice president of supplier relations for North America and global distribution strategy. Before that, he spent four years at Galileo International, where he served first as director of airline sales and account management, and subsequently vice president of airline vendor account management. Winterton also worked for six years at Official Airline Guide, where he held several positions, including regional director of Asia/Pacific.

Business Travel News named Winterton in both 2004 and 2006 to its annual list of the 25 Most Influential Executives in the Business Travel Industry.