Leading travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has continued its expansion of the last three years with the acquisition of the business travel division of an Austrian agency.
Raiffeisen Reisen GmbH Wien, founded 35 years ago, is one of the major agencies in Austria, employing 160 staff in 21 branches across the country.
However CWT has bought just the business travel section which employs eight staff based in Vienna and has an annual turnover of 16m.
CWT said the deal, if approved by the regulatory authorities, would represent a “significant increase” in its business in the Central European country.
Hubert Joly, president and ceo of CWT Worldwide, said: “The acquisition of Raiffeisen Reisen is in keeping with our global strategy of profitable growth.
“In addition to sustained organic growth, we've demonstrated our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions. Our success, coupled with the industry's mandate for economies of scale, is encouraging us to continue in the same direction.”
Hannes Schwarz, CWT's general manager for Austria, said clients of Raiffeisen would get “significant advantages” from working through a major TMC.
In the past three years, CWT has bought up agencies in France, the USA and Germany as part of its expansion plans.
easyJet appoints new ceo
easyJet, Europe's second largest low cost carrier, has appointed a man from the motor trade as its new ceo.
Andrew Harrison, 48, previously ceo of the RAC, takes over from Ray Webster when the long serving executive steps down at the end of November.
Mr Harrison joined Lex Service as ceo in 1996 and transformed it from a vehicle distribution company to RAC plc, a consumer-services company with 6.5m members.
Sir Colin Chandler, chairman of easyJet, said the airline had wanted as its new ceo someone “with senior management experience in a large and well recognised consumer-facing plc.”
Mr Harrison “has delivered strong top and bottom line growth, improved cash generation, introduced cost efficiencies and inspired employees in a service industry.”
Mr Webster will continue to work for easyJwet as a consultant on special projects reporting to Sir Colin.