Ian Heywood

Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has hired former BA senior manager, Ian Heywood, to the newly created role of head of strategic planning, global supplier services.   

Reporting into Bryan Conway, Travelport’s global head of commercial operations and supplier services, Heywood has been tasked with the development and execution of the company’s global vision and strategy for its air, rail and cruise supplier customers.

Working closely with Travelport’s four regional supplier leaders - Dan Westbrook (Americas); Robin Ranken (Europe); Will Owen Hughes (Middle East and Africa) and Andrew Middleton (Asia Pacific) – Heywood’s role has been established to ensure Travelport offers a consistent, global approach to airlines worldwide to help them maximise their yields and increase revenue streams through the GDS channel.  Account management responsibility for individual airlines and supplier customers, including the renewal of full content agreements, remains with regional heads.

Heywood brings with him a wealth of international travel experience in senior managerial roles for some of the world’s most famous airlines including British Airways, Qantas and Qatar Airways.  Most recently Heywood ran a consultancy business servicing JAL and Etihad. 

Commenting on his new role, Heywood said: “I’m looking forward to working with the regional team heads to further strengthen airline relationships and help enhance long term, mutually beneficial partnerships that enable our airline customers to distribute their flights and merchandising content in a way that works for their businesses and other key industry stakeholders.” 

Bryan Conway, global head of commercial operations and supplier services, added: “Ian brings with him a wealth of airline knowledge and has a solid reputation for finding consensus between conflicting views and driving change.  I firmly believe he will contribute significantly to enhancing our value proposition and nurturing positive partnerships with existing and future airline, rail and cruise customers.”