Consultancy Taps Maxwell

<B>Consultancy Taps Maxwell</B>

By Megan Hjermstad

Former director of travel for Nabisco Deborah Maxwell this month joined Norwalk, Conn.-based consultancy Management Alternatives.

Maxwell has more than 20 years experience in corporate travel with Nabisco, bringing a wide range of expertise to Management Alternatives. As director of travel at Nabisco, Maxwell led supplier negotiations, developed and mandated travel and corporate card programs, implemented an online booking system, consolidated meeting planning and led the globalization of Nabisco's travel program.

"I touched on everything over my 23 years at Nabisco. My strengths are on the operating side and in negotiating. It will be my job to ensure that companies are getting the best possible deal for their volume," said Maxwell.

Maxwell also noted her experience with online booking systems, having implemented such a tool at Nabisco for the first time four years ago and later helping to drive adoption of GetThere to 25 percent.

Maxwell knows first-hand the challenge of consolidating travel programs, following a corporate merger that many travel managers now are facing. Nabisco was bought by Philip Morris last year and now is a division of Kraft Foods. "I worked through the transition for six months, little by little introducing changes to travel policy," said Maxwell. "It was tough to leave, but I walked away knowing I had done a good job. Some of the executives that have left Nabisco already have called looking for help. It is a good feeling."

Maxwell also understands the procurement methods now being adopted in many organizations, having moved from human resources to strategic sourcing and procurement two years ago when she began to undertake a global consolidation. "You really do learn a different way of doing RFPs than when you report to finance or human resources. Buying travel is a little different than office supplies. You have to put people and quality into the equation," said Maxwell. "A lot of travel managers are afraid of strategic sourcing, but it is really nothing to be afraid of if you have the support of senior management.