PATA appoints new CEO
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has appointed Martin Craigs as its new chief executive officer, effective October 31.
Craigs is currently president of Aerospace Forum Asia (AFA) and managing partner at Hillcrest International Advisory. For the past 25 years, Craigs, 55, a holder of UK and Irish passports, has been mostly based in Hong Kong.
An aviation-industry specialist, Craigs has held important and senior positions at companies such as British aerospace company Short Brothers and Saab Scania Group, rising to become executive vice president of BAE Systems, a multinational defence, security and aerospace company based in the UK.
As an airline-industry marketer and advocate, he has undertaken projects and worked in Europe, the United States, Latin America and the Middle East over the past 25 years.
Since 1986, because of his experience, advocacy skills and network of contacts, Craigs has retained leadership of the pan-Asian non-profit advocacy group AFA. Its current members include Airbus, Boeing and Cathay Pacific.
PATA interim CEO Bill Calderwood said: "Martin understands the travel industry, and with his long AFA experience he understands associations and the importance of membership.
"Martin also brings visionary leadership, outstanding public-speaking skills, strong intercultural diplomacy and advocacy expertise to the helm at PATA. He is the right person to lead PATA as the association commits to an exciting future of building business and advocacy on behalf of our members."
PATA chairman Hiran Cooray said: "With his extensive top-level networking contacts and interpersonal talents, Martin, as the |new CEO, can be relied on to win hearts and minds externally and internally."
Over the past few years, Craigs has been asked to lobby for or advise diverse organisations such as AirAsia, the Hong Kong government, publisher and information provider Reed Elsevier, The Economist, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Pacific Basin Economic Council.
He has been a guest of IATA at the last 10 annual general meetings/ world transport summits. He has attended Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits in Asia and Latin America.
