World Cargo Announces Key Management Changes (26/10/2000)

Gareth Kirkwood, Managing Director of British Airways World Cargo, has announced three key changes to the roles and responsibilities of the airline's Cargo Executive Team.

Denis Connolly, formerly General Manager Regions, takes over the new post of General Manager Commercial, responsible for all sales, pricing and marketing activities worldwide and all commercial relationships with customers across the globe.

This role will be focused on delivering quality revenue and building relationships with key customers.

Denis has worked for British Airways since 1965 and joined the airline's cargo division in 1985. His career in World Cargo has included posts in the UK and overseas as Senior Manager World Cargocentre at Heathrow, Regional Cargo Manager for the Pacific and Regional Cargo Manager UK and Ireland.

Pat Pearse becomes General Manager Customer Service with worldwide responsibility for delivering consistent high standards of service in all markets where British Airways World Cargo has a presence. He was previously General Manager Service Delivery.

Pat joined World Cargo at the end of 1994. He previously spent 23 years in the airline's Engineering division. Prior to this latest appointment, he was General Manager Service Delivery, responsible for operational performance at all UK stations.

Paul Burton takes up the new post of General Manager Business Development. In this role, he retains responsibility for Information Systems and World Cargo's Change Programme and gains commercial product development, which includes the airline's Special Handling and Perishables centres.

Paul will also take control of developing World Cargo's commercial vision, including new products, pricing and distribution strategies. Since joining British Airways in 1976, he has held a number of business management, consultancy and IT roles in the UK, United States and Australasia. He joined World Cargo as a General Manager in 1995.

The other members of the Cargo Executive team retain their existing roles. Keith Heywood, Keith Dickerson, Paul Kemp and Mike Porteous continue as General Manager Network Management, Project Director Ascentis, General Manager Finance and General Manager People and Communications respectively.

Gareth Kirkwood said: "We have tremendous experience in the Executive Team. The principle purpose of these changes is to clarify accountability for a number of important functions. Our key objective as an organisation is the safe delivery of world-class customer service throughout our network. By doing this, we will maximise the financial contribution we make to British Airways and justify the huge investments made in our business in recent years.