French hotel booking platform CDS Groupe has hired HRS executive Christopher Hecht as VP of group payment solutions, a role in which he will work to unify and expand payment solutions across the group.
Hecht’s arrival follows several acquisitions by CDS over the past few years, including that of expense management provider Rydoo’s travel platform, which it renamed Goelett. The group also has acquired SIAP, which provides ERP software for travel management companies, and German corporate accommodations provider Corporate Rates Club.
"My mission is to unify four distinct payment solutions into a single, data-powered and machine-learning-enhanced model and extend it beyond hotels to include air, rail, and other corporate travel categories," Hecht said in a statement. "By leveraging AI, we can optimize approval flows, fraud detection, and cost efficiency, transforming the way companies manage their travel expenses."
Hecht had joined HRS Pay when it acquired expense management platform Paypense, which Hecht founded, and he since had served as HRS Pay's chief product officer. Prior to founding Paypense, Hecht had worked with HRS in roles including head of payment solutions.