Source: Travel Planet / LinkedIn
Laurent Pfeiffer has been appointed president of the Travel Planet Group
The Travel Planet Group today announced the appointment of
Laurent Pfeiffer as president, effective immediately, after co-founder and
chair Betty Seroussi stepped down from “all corporate roles and responsibility”
following accusations of fraud and money laundering.
A statement from Travel Planet said Seroussi “wishes to devote
herself to defending her personal interests and those of her husband Tristan
Dessain-Gelinet”.
Seroussi and the company's CEO Dessain-Gelinet have reportedly been charged
with tax fraud, money laundering and the misuse of corporate assets after being
taken into police custody last week. Local news reports have speculated the charges may relate to a 2018 dispute between the travel management company and Air France.
Travel Planet’s statement added: “It is essential to remember that this investigation does not
in any way involve the activities of Travel Planet nor those
of Makitizy, its subsidiary, nor
any of their employees, clients or partners.”
The company’s new president has more
than 20 years’ experience in developing and modernising French companies and
has a background in accounting and business law. He also sits on the boards of the
Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, professional training school École
Ferrandi, and employer federation Medef Paris.
“Under his presidency, Travel Planet will rely
on a strategic committee chaired
by the former Minister of Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari,
to continue its development and consolidate its position as a key player in innovative and responsible business travel,”
the company added.
The TMC recorded €130 million in gross sales in 2024 and is
the 11th
largest travel management company in France, according to BTN Europe’s Leading TMCs 2025 report.