NEWSMAKER: CWT Names Hubert Joly As Successor For CEO Gourio

Vivendi Universal's Hubert Joly in July will become Carlson Wagonlit Travel's worldwide president and CEO after working for one month with Hervé Gourio, 64, who will retire after nearly four years running one of the world's largest travel management companies.

Joly, 45, serves on Vivendi's executive committee and as deputy CFO and executive vice president of American assets. A French citizen, like Gourio, Joly previously ran Vivendi Universal Games in Los Angeles. His prior experience included roles as vice president of Electronic Data Systems Europe and president of EDS France from 1996 to 1999, as well as a 12-year stint with the high-technology practice at McKinsey & Co. in San Francisco, New York and Paris.

Speaking last week with Business Travel News, Gourio said Joly "fits the best possible profile for running CWT. There are four basics that are important in our business: a strategic mindset because the industry is changing very fast, experience with business client relationships, a good grasp of technology and you also need to be very international."

Asked about his retirement, Gourio said, "It's very emotional to leave a company you've been working with for so long. I can say two things: It was never boring, and I'm very proud of CWT."

Gourio's career at CWT and its predecessors spanned nearly 30 years. He is credited with establishing several international partnerships and leading two major acquisitions.