Carlson Wagonlit Travel appoints new Managing Director

Global travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel has appointed Derek Sharp as Managing Director of CWT Meetings & Events. Effective 1 November, Derek will be based in London, and will report to Kelly Kuhn, Chief Customer Officer of CWT. He will serve as a member of CWT’s Customer Organization Leadership Team. Kuhn commented: “Derek’s success in strategy, sales, P&L management and business development will bring an additional level of dynamism to our Meetings and Events business. In addition, his extensive experience in the global travel industry will provide a unique perspective on how to further grow this critical component of CWT’s worldwide portfolio. I am absolutely delighted to welcome Derek to our team.” Immediately prior to his appointment, Derek was SVP and Managing Director of Travelport’s Air Commerce line of business, focusing on airline and rail distribution as well as airline IT solutions. He has previously held senior management, strategy and consulting positions with HP Enterprise Services, EDS, UPS and Bain & Company. An American national who has lived in the Americas, Asia and Europe, Derek holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BA in Political Science from Texas A&M University.