Top Ex-Delta Exec Joins Cendant

Continuing to bring in industry veterans to run its relatively new travel distribution division, Parsippany, N.J.-based Cendant Corp. last week employed long-time Delta Air Lines executive Robert Coggin 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 has served as a travel and transportation consultant for Accenture's Travel and Transportation practice, Delta and others.

In the newly created role, according to a Cendant statement, 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, CEO of strategic distribution and travel services for Cendant's travel distribution division, referenced Coggin's "highly regarded reputation" at Delta, where upon retirement he was executive vice president of marketing and for years had served on Delta's executive council, which included the four topmost senior executives.

"This new position and Bob's appointment are pivotal to Cendant's travel distribution initiative," said Cendant chief strategic officer and chairman and CEO of travel distribution Sam Katz in the press announcement. "We're striking agreements with suppliers to achieve win-win outcomes that include moving considerable inventory for our partners. Bob's arrival significantly expands our ability to drive greater value for suppliers."

Coggin clearly will play a pivotal role as Cendant considers new pricing models for its distribution services (see story, page 14).

The list of qualifications and responsibilities garnered from Coggin's Delta days is impressive and include: pricing and revenue management, airline scheduling, route development, route expansion, consumer marketing, advertising, loyalty programs, global sales activity, customer relations, call centers, distribution planning, e-commerce and airline alliances.

As part of the airline's executive council, Coggin also helped to formulate policy and set strategic direction related to such issues as aircraft acquisition, mergers and acquisitions, route expansion, technology, human resources and finance/accounting.

Coggin has served on the boards of the Airline Tariff Publishing Corp., Priceline, Worldspan and the Travel Industry Association of America, among others.

Cendant's travel distribution division includes Cheap Tickets Inc., Galileo International and WizCom, among other units.