Cendant Aligns Travel Distribution Businesses

PARSIPPANY, NJ— In a move to further leverage the strengths of Galileo International and its affiliated travel distribution brands, Cendant Corp.s Travel Distribution Services division unveiled a new integrated operating structure aligned around key customer segments, along with a new senior management team. Cendants distribution businesses have been integrated into five customer-focused groups: Airline Services; Hospitality & Leisure Services; Galileo Client Services; Highwire Corporate Services; and Retail Travel Services. This single, dedicated team, provides easy access to Cendants suite of distribution businesses, which includes Galileo, WizCom, TRUST International, Lodging.com, RCI Travel, Travelers Advantage, Cheaptickets.com and Trip.com. In addition to the realignment, Galileo will reduce layers of management and streamline the decision-making and product-delivery processes as it completes its integration into Cendant. This action will displace approximately 8% of the 2,650 Galileo global workforce, primarily in The Americas region. This is a culmination of several actions initiated when Cendant acquired Galileo in October 2001. Per the realignment, Airline Services will provide access to Galileo; Cendants travel agency; Highwire; Trip Networks websites; and Shepherd Systems, a marketing intelligence system. The unit is headed by evp Robert Coggin, who joined Cendant in April 2002 as evp/supplier development. Coggin previously was a corporate officer for Delta Airlines. Hospitality & Leisure Services will become the central service point for hotels, tour operators, cruise lines and rental car companies. This unit will combine the strengths of Galileo, WizCom and TRUST International. Michael McCormick has been tapped to head the division as svp. He joined Cendant in February 2002 as president/WizCom. Previously, he was COO of PhoCusWright. Galileo Client Services provides tools through to three primary geographic regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific. EMEA will continue to be headed by evp Gordon Wilson and Asia-Pacific will continue under the direction of evp Janie Kaung. The Americas region is being restructured to address the current market and will be headed by evp Mitch Gross, who joined Galileo in April 2002 as chief marketing officer. Gross came to Galileo from Staples, where he was vp/business services. Highwire Corporate Services will concentrate on the growing online corporate travel market by capitalizing on technology, client relationships and product features of affiliated brands. Highwire was acquired by Galileo in October 2001, following Galileos acquisition by Cendant. Highwire Corporate Services has been made an independent business line and Marka Jenkins will remain as president/CEO. Retail Travel Services will integrate all of Cendants consumer distribution brands, travel products and fulfillment services into one business line, including Lodging.com, Cendants Travel Agency, Cheap Tickets and Trip.com. Chris Annese will head this unit as interim COO. Annese has worked for Cendant for five years, in progressive management positions in finance, strategic development and travel distribution. Shared Services will support and share critical applications and knowledge across the business lines, key shared service groups have been established, reporting to Galeotos. Among them: Product Innovation, Marketing, & Strategy, headed by Ken Esterow, chief development officer; Technology headed by Mickey Lutz, CIO; Finance and Administration, headed by Ted McNamara, CFO; Human Resources lead by Jo-Anne Kruse, svp; and Legal headed by Cathy Cupp, general counsel.