Kurt Ekert on May 1 will step down as CEO of CWT, and the mega travel management company will replace him with current CFO and president of strategy and transformation Michelle McKinney Frymire, CWT announced Tuesday.
McKinney Frymire joined CWT as CFO in January 2019 and last year added the role of president of strategy and transformation. Before joining CWT, she served in senior financial roles for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines, as well as several firms outside the travel industry, according to CWT.
"Following a strong and dynamic performance in her most immediate role as president, strategy and transformation and chief financial officer, Michelle's leadership skills will be key to our future accomplishments and continued development," said Rick Gage, chair of CWT parent company CTII Holdings, in a statement.
Ekert, who joined CWT as CEO in 2016, "will take on the role of senior advisor to the company," according to CWT. Before joining CWT, he served as EVP and chief commercial officer of Travelport.
"As a natural development in our succession planning, I am also pleased that Kurt will remain an advisor to CWT, and I thank him for his leadership and impact," according to Gage. CWT in a statement said the TMC during Ekert's term "has won approximately $7 billion of new business [and] consistently grown market share."
CWT has not yet named a replacement for McKinney Frymire as CFO or as president of strategy and transformation, a spokesperson told BTN.