OFFICERS:
President: Andres Castañeda (Aeroméxico)
Vice President: Akira Mitsumasu (Japan Airlines)
Secretary: Maura Chacko (Spafax)
DIRECTORS:
Luc Bondar (United Airlines)
Perry Cantarutti (Delta Air Lines)
Jeffrey Goh (Star Alliance)
Job Heimerikx (AirFi)
Esdra Lamy (Warner Bros.)
PRESIDENT CANDIDATE – Andres Castañeda
Andrés Castañeda
Chief CX and Chief Digital Officer
Aeroméxico
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
It will be an honor to serve as president of APEX, especially in this recovery period for the industry. I think the role of APEX is more important than ever, as it helps the industry and it´s members with valuable guidance.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
10 years of experience in Marketing; E-commerce; CX; Product; RM
Leadership Experience:
Leadership position in Aeromexico as CMO
Board member of PLM
Executive member of JV for the transborder between Delta and Aeromexico.
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
APEX Committees: Marketing and Awards
APEX Board Experience: 4 years
Positions: Director and VP
VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE – Akira Mitsumasu
Akira Mitsumasu
VP, Global CX & Marketing
Japan Airlines
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
As VP of a global premium airline, I feel a responsibility to work collaboratively with industry stakeholder to continuously improve customer experience. This is especially important in a fast changing world where customer behavior and expectations change too. And with the Covid-19 situation, there is much we can do to meet the immediate needs of travelers (e.g. safety and flexibility) whilst planning for a better new normal.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
I have been in the airline industry for over 30 years and understands how important CX is as a core competency that drives revenue. As VP of global CX and marketing, my top priority is to maintain high standards in daily operations whilst constantly identify kaizen and innovation opportunities.
Leadership experience:
I am an advisory board member at the CMO Council APAC and a member of the Effie Asia Pacific Council.
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
I served on the APEX Board of Directors 2019-2021 including a role as a Co-Chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee.
SECRETARY CANDIDATE – Maura Chacko
Maura Chacko
Vice President, Development
Spafax
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
I have been honored to serve on the board for 6 years now, including 4 as Secretary. I believe in the work that APEX is doing, particularly throughout the COVID crisis to help innovate and sustain the industry through the most difficult times. I welcome the opportunity to serve another term as Secretary to help see the industry and our member companies to the regrowth and success in the future.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
APEX Board of Directors – Secretary 2017-2021
APEX Board of Director – 2015-2017
Current Chair of the EXPO Committee, the Awards Committee and the Governance Committee
Previous member of the Education Committee, the Content Market Committee and the Membership Committee
Leadership experience (e.g., positions on other Boards):
Current member of the IFSA Foundation Board of Directors
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
APEX Board of Directors – Secretary 2017-2021
APEX Board of Director – 2015-2017
Chair of the EXPO Committee, the Awards Committee and the Governance Committee – 2017-2021
Previous member of the Education Committee, the Content Market Committee and the Membership Committee (2011-2017)
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE – Luc Bondar
Luc Bondar
Vice President, Marketing & Loyalty and President, MileagePlus®
United Airlines
Reason for running for the Board of Directors: United Airlines is committed to being a global leader and a trailblazer in passenger CX – as evidenced throughout the global covid-19 pandemic. As a leader shaping many aspects of CX at United, I am running for the APEX BoD as I believe the role provides a tremendous opportunity to share what we are doing and learning at United in an effort to positively affect change and drive CX innovation across the wider commercial aviation industry.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
18+ years working with various commercial airlines worldwide in passenger marketing, loyalty program strategy, design and operations including
4 years with United Airlines leading loyalty and 1 year also leading marketing.
Leadership experience:
Star Alliance – United Airlines representative on Star Alliance Loyalty Strategy Board
Journera – travel technology company, Advisory board
United JV with Lufthansa and Air Canada – Customer Experience Board
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
None
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE – Perry Cantarutti
Perry Cantarutti
Senior Vice President – Alliances and International
Delta Air Lines
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
As Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President of Alliances & International, a critical role in my global leadership centers around building the quality and consistency of end-to-end airline customer experience. This has been especially challenging during the pandemic as customer expectations and operating requirements have changed dramatically and rapidly. APEX serves as the second largest airline association in the world and the only one entirely dedicated to improving the level of care given to airline customers worldwide. With Delta CEO Ed Bastian serving as the Chairman of the APEX/IFSA Board of Governors for 2019-2020, I received approval from the President of Delta Air Lines to invest the time required to help quicken the advancement of our industry.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
In my past 25 plus years in the airline industry, I have proudly worked across many aspects of airline customer experience in the US, Asia and EMEA.
Delta Air Lines
– Senior Vice President of Alliances from 2018- Present
Returned to larger SVP role at Delta Air Lines after three years of successfully advancing SkyTeam as the second largest airline alliance in the world.
SkyTeam
– Chief Executive Officer from 2015-2018
Developed strategic initiatives for SkyTeam, the global alliance of 20 leading airlines, to deliver technology and alignment among airline partners to offer a more consistent and seamless customer experience.
Delta Air Lines
– Senior Vice President, Europe Middle East and Africa from 2010–2015
- Vice President Reservations Sales and Customer Care from 2008-2010
Northwest Airlines
– Vice President Reservations Sales and Service from 2006–2008
- Managing Director, Marketing & Distribution Asia-Pacific from 2002-2006
- Various roles in Revenue Management and Loyalty Marketing from 1992-2002
Leadership experience:
Successfully led SkyTeam capturing the energies of 20 different airline executives and teams.
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board:
I have served as an APEX Board member since 2019. I have worked with APEX CEO Joe Leader since 2016 when we first met in Amsterdam. I am honored to re-run for the APEX Board of Directors and will be an active strategic leader for the association representing the interests of our advancing industry.
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE – Jeffery Goh
Jeffrey Goh
CEO
Star Alliance
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
I was encouraged by some current members of the APEX Board to offer my skills, experience, and resources to help lead this important Association at a critical time—the post-pandemic recovery. I want to help APEX to a) rebuild its financial resources, b) expand its influence in guiding the digital transformation of the passenger experience industry, c) provide APEX’s help and resources to those smaller APEX members who were most harmed by the pandemic, and d) help to re-establish and re-grow APEX EXPO as the platform by which passenger experience suppliers and airlines can meet face-to-face to learn from one another and do important business.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
Star Alliance is the largest global airline alliance, focused on building a comprehensive airline network and making the customer journey better. Since my first year as CEO in 2017, I have led Star Alliance through its digital transformation, putting in place innovative customer experience solutions ranging from transactional seamless experiences, to digital airport connections, and an innovative biometrics solution that works across multiple airports and airlines. These Star Alliance digital and automation advances are fundamental to the success of our 26 member airlines, and can be shared with the broader industry.
Leadership experience:
As CEO of Star Alliance, actively committed to its digital transformation of the passenger experience, I have both led and learned, and want to share this experience with the rest of the industry. Prior to my 14 years at Star Alliance, I was Senior Legal Counsel at IATA, bringing additional aviation association and regulatory experience that I can share with APEX.
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
I am pleased to have been a speaker at APEX TECH, the conferences held by the APEX Technology Committee, and have followed the activities of the Technology Committee with interest, from time to time offering input and encouragement. But, in the current environment I believe it is necessary to roll up my sleeves and give back even more in a hands-on way.
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE – Job Heimerikx
Job Heimerikx
CEO and Founder
Airfi
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
Portable IFE has previously been the new kid on the block but quickly grown to be a new form of technology in the market for enhancing passengers’ experience with serious impact on the single-aisle market. We have pioneered this technology since 2014 and we have always enjoyed great support from APEX/FTE and its members. Now it is time and my desire to give back. I believe that I bring a lot of experience and a track record of innovation to APEX/FTE, both as a thought leader and an inventor of portable IFE. I want to run for the position because I truly believe that I can bring a lot of creativity and innovation to the APEX/FTE community by starting to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. I want to focus on helping APEX/FTE to get through these strange times, ensuring financial stability – just as I am running our own company – and enforcing the organization’s Code of Conduct to improve integrity in the industry. Integrity is particularly important when a market is under pressure to ensure a healthy value chain from studio to the airline and back. I would like to do all this with a smile, creativity and devotion. I am here to serve the organization and execute, instead of only providing ideas on the sidelines.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
I have been working in the industry since 2011 as CEO and founder of AirFi. We have grown AirFi to be the #3 Wireless IFE player in the world (source: Valour Consultancy) based on number of aircraft and to be the #2 supplier of crew ePOS solutions, serving (pre-COVID) approximately 80 airlines and rail operators worldwide. I will provide a very broad spectrum of views with respect to Passenger Experience and not limited to tier 1 or full service airlines only. My unique value proposition is the fact that we deal with airlines of all sizes, from those with 1 aircraft to those with over 300 aircraft. Different sizes require very different needs and I want to be sure to have all member-voices heard.
Leadership experience:
Next to being founder and CEO of multiple new companies in various industries, I have served on the boards of various start-ups and an investment fund over the years. I also bring 25+ years of innovation experience based on out-of-the-box thinking. I am a motivator and Chief Evangelist Officer. I like to connect people and organizations to improve products and bring new innovations to the world. Even though I was raised with true “Dutch directness” I have a great feel and deep respect for the different cultures and beliefs in the world. As an INSEAD-MBA graduate, I have been fortunate to study and work alongside some of the sharpest minds from multiple cultures across Asia, Europe and the United States. As a leader I am a loyal servant to my team and do not shirk the difficult decisions and I never let go of the interest for the organization and its members. I am comfortable and familiar operating fast-growing and lean organizations, with a strong focus on finance, budgets and cash. The vision I have for the directorship role is to be the bridge between strict financial and budget control (lean thinking) and creative, forward-looking vision development. Just like we do at AirFi, I want to help the APEX/FTE organization to improve by 1% every day.
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
I am a member of the APEX financial committee and I have been part of the APEX TECH committee since 2018.
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE – Esdra Lamy
Esdra Lamy
SVP
Warner Bros.
Reason for running for the Board of Directors:
While this is my first year working with our airlines partners on the inflight entertainment. I’ve been a long time consumer who’s flown over 2.5 million miles. I plan to bring a fresh perspective, insight and an advocate for evolving the business.
Airline passenger experience industry experience:
I’ve been in content licensing for 17 years. My experience with the airline passenger experience is mostly as a passenger. As mentioned above well over two million miles flown. I now head our content licensing team that partners with the airlines to enhance the inflight entertainment experience. I look forward to building on the positive impact Warner Bros continue to have on the industry.
Leadership experience:
My leadership experiences ranges from the work that I do at Warner Bros in content licensing as the co-head of Syndication and Head of Airlines. Additionally, I’m a founding board member of Toast Distillers, INC. A spirits company based in Miami, Florida that owns Toast Vodka and manufactures for other brands such as Miami Club Rum, Eleven Vodka and Pitbull owned Voli Vodka. Because of my passion for education the past 5 years I’ve had the privilege to serve on the associate board of Teach For America(TFA).
Current or previous experience on APEX committees and/or APEX Board experience:
I’ve not currently served in any capacity with APEX.