Top Ex-Delta Exec Coggin To Join Cendant

Longtime Delta Air Lines executive Robert Coggin on April 1 will join the Travel Distribution Division of Parsippany, N.J.-based Cendant Corp. as executive vice president of supplier development. Since retiring at age 61 from the senior ranks at Delta in 1998, nearly a year after current Delta CEO Leo Mullin replaced Ron Allen, Coggin served Accenture, Delta and others as a travel and transportation consultant. In the newly created role, according to a Cendant statement issued yesterday, Coggin "will be responsible for travel distribution, strategic planning, revenue and yield management and coordinating supplier relationships with airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, rental car companies and tour operators."

A statement attributed to Sam E. Galeotos, chief executive officer of strategic distribution and travel services for Cendant's Travel Distribution Division, referenced Coggin's "highly regarded reputation" at Delta, where he was executive vice president of marketing and one of four members of Delta's Executive Council upon his retirement.

Cendant's Travel Distribution Division includes Cheap Tickets Inc., Galileo International and WizCom, among other units.