The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has named Leigh Bochicchio as its new executive director, effective 17 June.
Bochicchio steps up to the role following the departure of Greeley Koch, who is now vice president of marketing and content creation at HRS. She has served two terms as ACTE’s nominations committee chair, chaired the organisation’s Strategic Planning Task Force from 2015-2016 and was appointed ACTE president by the board in 2017.
Bochicchio brings years of industry experience. She joined Mastercard in 2006 and managed the company’s lifecycle discipline globally, as well as working on the firm’s global learning and talent development and commercial product organisations. Previously, Bochicchio ran sales and account management for Galileo International’s travel distribution online strategy. She has also held a number of leadership positions at American Express Travel Related Services.
As executive director, Bochicchio will serve as ACTE’s CEO and will be responsible for managing its strategic direction in addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations and its employees.
Commenting on Bochicchio’s appointment, Kurt Knackstedt, board member, ACTE Centre chair and former president (2014-2017), said: “Leigh has long served among ACTE’s leaders and has demonstrated a firm commitment to advancing our core mission: providing the education and tools corporate travel managers need to support their businesses and build their careers.
“And it isn’t just Leigh’s resume that makes her exceptionally qualified for the job; she deeply understands the implications of ‘global’ in a business. Leigh is dedicated to listening and understanding people. Beyond time zones and travel, she is thoughtful around cultural norms that influence how individuals and teams learn and lead in the corporate world.”
Bochicchio added: “The travel industry is constantly in flux. With every innovation, travel managers have an important role in helping their businesses excel. ACTE has and will continue to serve as a critical resource in the field as we provide relevant learning and collaboration opportunities throughout the industry. I’m thrilled to stand at the helm of this organisation as we continue to pursue an exciting strategic vision.”
Stepping into Bochicchio’s former role as ACTE president will be Lori O’Connell, who has served on the association’s board of directors since 2014, as treasurer since 2016 and as regional chair for the US from 2012 to 2014. O’Connell is currently a senior director at PwC, where she led the company’s travel and meetings programmes for ten years. Prior to this, she spent 20 years on the supplier side, working for several large TMCs.
acte.org