BCD Travel announced the appointment of industry veteran Danny Hood, former president of WorldTravel BTI, as president of BCD Travel’s Americas region. Additionally, Louise Miller has been named to a newly created role of executive vice president for global business solutions, sales and marketing.

The appointments, which will take effect in January 2008, reflect the company’s commitment to meeting the needs of global and regional clients with quality, timeliness and excellence, and follow the naming in November of new CEO Joop Drechsel and global president & COO John Snyder.

Drechsel said: “Danny’s strategic guidance and insight will be a tremendous asset for BCD Travel in the Americas region. Those of us who worked with Danny in the past are particularly delighted to welcome him back to the company.”

Hood retired as president of WorldTravel BTI in January 2006, prior to the launch of BCD Travel. Renowned for his visionary leadership, Hood pioneered several industry firsts, including the introduction of one of the first direct connect technologies, the launch of one of the first Web-based travel booking engines, and the creation of the first online e-fulfillment center.

As president of BCD Travel’s Americas region, Hood will oversee all travel management operations in North America and South America and the BCD Travel Affiliates program. Hood will report to John Snyder.

Snyder accepted the position of global president & COO in November, following Mike Buckman’s decision to assume a leadership position in the Asia Pacific region and the naming of Joop Drechsel as new CEO. Snyder will be responsible for executing the company’s business strategy and aligning BCD Travel's commercial, operational and technological functions and processes across the globe.

Snyder said that his top priorities as global president and COO are to grow the company aggressively, to ensure BCD Travel offers the best and most innovative solutions to its customers, and to continue to expand and retain BCD Travel’s client base across the globe.

Snyder added that the appointment of Louise Miller to a newly created position of executive vice president for global business solutions, sales and marketing is designed to facilitate the company’s commitment to streamline and synchronize key internal- and customer-facing areas on a global basis. Miller is currently president of the East Division in the United States.

BCD Travel’s new CEO, Joop Drechsel, said: “Louise has been instrumental in many of the major global client sales and retention initiatives and has successfully led a division with some of the most complex global clients. I am pleased to have her as a member of an executive team committed to driving innovation throughout the organization and setting BCD Travel apart in the years to come.”