Maritz Veteran To Take Travel Reins As Prez And CEO
<B>Maritz Veteran To Take Travel Reins As Prez And CEO</B>
By Sarah Welt
Beginning April 1, Jeff Reinberg will assume Michael Boland's role as Maritz Travel Co. president and CEO. Boland, who announced his retirement in October (see story, page 1), will leave his Maritz post at the end of March.
Reinberg, a 24-year Maritz veteran, currently serves as senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Maritz Inc. and reports directly to president and CEO Steve Maritz. Reinberg also sits on Maritz's board of directors and is a member of its executive committee.
Norm Schwesig, who currently serves as Maritz Inc.'s senior executive vice president also will become director of corporate administration, and Gil Hoffman, CIO for Maritz Inc., will assume some additional responsibility for global information technology.
"Jeff is very tuned into what is going on with business and has a great passion for the travel business and for quality. I couldn't be happier turning the reins over to him," Boland said. "It is a very good example of the stability of Maritz, the depth of the management team and the continuity that we will provide to our customers."
"Mike and I have really worked together continuously for the past 24 years. We are both very passionate about the travel business and have a wonderful working relationship," Reinberg said.
Changes are likely under the new leadership. Reinberg said that while Boland served as chairman of the global network GTM, in addition to being head of Maritz Travel, "I will serve a role at GTM but it would be at board capacity," said Reinberg.
In addition, because Reinberg will be overseeing all aspects of the travel management company, he believes it is important to add the position of corporate travel division president.
"The president of a corporate travel division would still report to me," said Reinberg. "If you look at the travel company and Mike Boland, he has devoted a large percentage of his time to the corporate travel division, but the demands are such that it is no longer sufficient. I don't think one person can devote that much time. It is so demanding that something has to give."
The agency underwent a reorganization last summer, consolidating its seven former regions into three geographic areas--Eastern, Central and Western--and naming Scott Guerrero, Steve Weiner and Mike Koetting to head those regions (<I>BTN</I>, Sept. 20, 1999). Also as a result of the realignment, CIO Richard Spradling became head of operations and distribution and took on the responsibility to study emerging technologies and electronic commerce.
Reinberg said he is eager to work with all of the officers in creating a "macro strategy" for the corporation. He stressed Spradling's importance going forward, especially since Reinberg plans to take an active role in furthering Maritz's technology, e-commerce and other Web-based initiatives.
In addition, Reinberg noted that the market is ripe for continued growth in group and meetings management. "We need to focus on those opportunities. The demand is strong right now.