Craig Thomas Email & Phone Number

Doha, Qa

Doha, Qa

Responsible for trade and corporate sales in the USA and Canada and optimizing revenue from the 13 cities Qatar Airways serves in North America. Leading a team of 5 Channel/Commercial Managers and 17 Account Managers

Doha, Qa

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Overall responsibility for revenue delivery for the company's USA point of sale, including six online gateways (Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.)Maximize revenue and profit generation through the implementation of localized channel- and segment-shift strategies, with specific focus on increasing premium, corporate and RASK-positive customer volume. Overall responsibility for co-ordinating national contracting and local account management interface, and delivery of digital sales revenue targets.

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Overall responsibility for commercial operations in Canada, with 9 direct reports.• Maximize revenue and profit generation in a highlight regulated and bilaterally constrained markets;• Initiating innovative sales campaigns that deliver revenue growth despite no material increases in frequency or connectivity in over 5 years; • Widening the company’s market segmentation and destination mix by increasing the share of corporate and premium sales and geographic location of accounts, and increased sales through direct channels.

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Role encompassed regional responsibility for North Asia and Eurasian markets, comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Georgia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Oversaw the formulation, localisation and implementation of regional and country sales plans to deliver 16% of the company network passenger revenue. Effectively led a culturally-diverse and multi-lingual team of 13 Country General Managers, who in turn managed a complement of 250, delivering notable year-on-year improvements in RASK, corporate deal compliance and alliance revenue generation. Co-ordinated the launch of four new destinations - Jaipur, Kolkata, Phuket and Yerevan and supported commercial response to key markets in the aftermath of natural disasters (Nepal earthquake) and political instability (Thailand coup d'etat)Key achievements :• Delivered a 39% increase in total revenue in 2014 vs 2013 with a 52% increase in Premium revenue;• Achieved and exceeded 2014 Alliances & Partnership budget;• Exceeded First Class revenue target for 2014; • Aligned 2015 business plans to deliver a 60% increase in total revenue, with 89% in premium.

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Role encompassed overall territory responsibility for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, managing day-to-day sales activity in these markets, as well as customer engagement, brand representation and sponsorship activation.Direct coaching, guiding and leadership of Account Managers who managed overall contracted revenue of over USD-19-million. Managed Australia-wide strategy for niche and specialist market sales disciplines and functions, including direct online sales, OTAs, tour operators and specific community markets.Key achievements : • Facilitated the implementation of the first job-share scheme in Etihad Airways Australia; • Increased revenue generated through online channels from 9% of total revenue to over 14% in 18 months; • Facilitated the launch of SuperSeller, the company’s travel agency loyalty incentive scheme, in Australia in February 2012;• Established new partnerships in specific business and cultural contexts to increase Etihad’s role in promoting trade and travel between Australia and Kenya, Serbia and the Netherlands;

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Overall responsibility for Etihad Airways in Thailand and the Mekong region [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam] - directing the planning, implementation and management of passenger sales in Thailand. Bangkok remains the most frequently served wide-body destination in the company network. Developed, coached and mentored multi-national and multi-lingual workforce, with demonstrated success in upskilling of account managers, and creating vertical progression within the local organisation. Developed relations with partner airlines, government bodies, Chambers of Commerce and business entities to grow offline markets, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Notable achievements : • Crisis-managed the Bangkok operation and team during the 2011 floods, which disrupted flight and commercial operations;• Championed and facilitated the localisation of sales and marketing initiatives in Thai language. This included the creation and adoption of a Thai logo and brand elements;• Supported the growth of Etihad Airways partnership with Bangkok Airways, positioning Etihad as a major contributor to several key offline markets.

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, Ae

Role encompassed overall responsibility for Etihad Airways in South Africa - directing the planning, implementation and management of passenger sales in Southern Africa. Oversaw the set-up of the business, followed by the launch of Johannesburg services in December 2005, the increase of the service to daily in August 2007 and the launch of Cape Town service in October 2009.Key responsibilities :• Establishing a full business and market presence of Etihad Airways in South Africa, prior to and following the launch of services;• Recruiting a team of account managers and customer service agents in line with the country’s Employment Equity and empowerment guidelines; • Initiating innovative sales and marketing campaigns, within agreed levels of customer service to our guests;• Widening the company’s market segmentation and destination mix by increasing the share of corporate and premium sales and geographic location of accounts; • Growing the company’s passenger numbers and revenues to justify the increase of operations to a daily service;• Managing, coaching and developing a multi-cultural and multi-lingual workforce; • Represent the airline in the Board of Airline Representatives, in Tourism and Government advisory bodies and in Chambers of Commerce. Notable achievements : • Increased country revenue from by almost 500% between 2006 and 2010 in USD, despite sharp depreciation of local currency;• Championed an increase in bilateral traffic rights, resulting in the increase of services from two to seven flights per week;• Planned and executed the launch of the company’s new Cape Town service on 1 October 2009; • Proactively implemented a trainee apprenticeship program;• Elected as the Chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives for two consecutive years.

London, England, Gb

Providing the De Beers Group of companies with industry analysis service in order to support the company’s growth and business objectives. Identification of threats, associated risks and vulnerabilities impacting on De Beers Group interests, assets, people and product. Inform tactical and strategic decision making. Monitor governance and best practice developments in the global diamond industry. Networking with all business units in the group with a primary focus on developing a understanding of their business needs and to collect relevant information of importance to Group interest, assets, people and products. Maintaining reciprocal relationship between IIAD and all Stakeholders (internal and external) to the De Beers Group. Managing the departmental budget and implementing a service charge-out and cost-recovery system

London, England, Gb

Managing the R70-million travel spend of the De Beers group. Formulating and updating the travel policy and procedures; Data-driven decision making to design and implement systems and processes to record worldwide travel spend; Contract negotiation and implementation; Monitoring performance and customer satisfaction delivered by suppliers and contractors; Initiating cost-saving measures to reduce overall travel spend by 20%. Researching and designing e-commerce solutions for travel. Advising the Executive Committee regarding trends and developments within the travel industry; Seeking best practice and adoption of international standards. Co-ordinating the use of corporate aircraft to minimize spend on scheduled airlines.

Crawley, Gb

Supervising and managing daily flight operations, ensuring compliance with international aviation law, national business protocol and company objectives. Managing human resources in terms of rostering, training, performance review, recruitment and conflict resolution. Management of budgets; account reconciliation. Strategic planning and implementation of systems and procedures to improve customer service. Duties also included supervision and co-ordination of chauffeur drive activities. Overall management of 35 airport staff and 16 staff per shift.Assisted with station start-up in Cape Town and Lagos

Be

Responsibilities : Improving and expanding Sabena’s media presence in Southern Africa. Writing of press releases, Media Briefs and formulation of media blitzes, travel agent workshops and inflight magazine editorials. Co-ordination with Brussels head office to create synergy between the offices. Distribution of electronic and printed news material to the press.

Bachelor Of Arts With Honours, International Relations

Programme For Management Development, Marketing, Finance, Change Management, Branding

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Psychology, International Relations, Linguistics, French