Travel management company CWT has promoted executives Nick Vournakis and Derek Sharp and installed both on the company's Executive Leadership Team, the company announced Thursday. COO Niklas Andreen is set to depart the company, according to CWT.
The moves are part of an effort to structurally delineate between the customer and traveler experience, CEO Michelle McKinney Frymire said in a statement. "Separating Customer and Traveler Experience into distinct functions will flatten our leadership structure and bring greater focus to our strategic initiatives moving forward," she said in the statement. "This also aligns the business units with our recently announced investment plans."
Vournakis, formerly managing director of CWT's global customer group, will become EVP and chief customer officer. He has spent more than 20 years with CWT, holding a variety of positions, including SVP general manager of CWT Canada, SVP of global marketing and VP of solutions group worldwide.
Sharp, previously COO for CWT's Roomit hotel platform, will become EVP and Chief Traveler Experience Officer, according to CWT. Sharp also formerly headed CWT Meetings & Events. He joined CWT in 2018 after eight years at travel technology firm Travelport, including a stint as president and managing director.
Both Vournakis and Sharp will report directly to McKinney Frymire. The appointments are effective Dec. 1.
It wasn't immediately clear when or to where Andreen would depart. "The transformation that he and his team have achieved positions us for ongoing success and I extend my thanks and deep gratitude to him for his friendship, leadership and contributions to CWT," according to McKinney Frymire.