BA Names Noyes To Head N.A. Sales

<B>BA Names Noyes To Head N.A. Sales</B>

British Airways last month appointed David Noyes as executive vice president of sales and marketing for North America. Based in the carrier's regional headquarters in Queens, New York, Noyes is responsible for all sales and marketing activities throughout the United States and Canada.

Noyes will have to keep clients on this side of the pond up to date on BA's focus on premium traffic and efforts to solidify its alliance with American Airlines. Noyes most recently had been director of alliances and franchises at British Airways' world headquarters in London. Prior duties during his 16-year BA career included strategy management, distribution, marketing programs, U.K./Ireland telephone sales and sales and customer service in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

"Clearly, this is a challenging time to be taking over the reins of any sales and marketing organization in the United States right now. However, from what I've seen in my first six weeks here in North America, I am encouraged by our customers' reactions to our new products, especially our Club World flat beds," Noyes told BTN. "As a result, I see that my key objective is to ensure British Airways is well placed to take advantage of our strong brand as the market hopefully strengthens in due course."

Noyes replaced Dan Brewin, who returned to London to serve as deputy chairman of British Airways' 50/50 joint venture with Thomas Cook on a merged holidays/tour operator company. The joint venture in May was given the green light by the European Commission. Brewin had been BA's top sales and marketing executive in North America since 1999 and helped many of the carrier's corporate customers secure global deals and develop extranet connectivity.

On Sept. 1, BA also will name John Rishton as CFO and the newest member of its board of directors. Rishton has been serving as CFO designate since Derek Stevens announced his retirement this spring.