Who we are

John is our group CEO. John has been with Accelya since 2015 and has guided the transformation of the business from a back-office systems and services provider to the only company able to provide the full lifecycle of systems and services from offer through to settlement. John is a seasoned CEO and board member, having participated in the development of several global companies, including start-ups. John has worked in 3 continents during his career serving the airline industry.

Jim is our President and Chief Strategy Officer. Before we acquired Farelogix, a recognized disruptor and leader in airline distribution and commerce technology, Jim was their CEO. Jim has been immersed in the travel industry for more than 25 years. Before 2005, he was President and CEO of NTE, an Internet-based supply chain technology company focused on transportation pricing and transaction engines for shippers and carriers. He also held several senior leadership roles, including President and CEO of Amadeus Global Travel, North America; Head of Sales and Marketing at System One; and Vice President of Marketing at Reed Travel Group/OAG.

James is our Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for our Go To Market organization, including Sales and Marketing. He has a wealth of general management experience with extensive sales and consulting leadership skills gained over many years and industries. Before joining Accelya, James had executive and commercial management responsibilities at CHAMP Cargosystems, Infosky (a Chinese JV company), SITA and CGI (formerly LogicaCMG). James is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, and has received post-graduate executive education at the London Business School.

José María is our Chief Financial Officer. He’s responsible for the financial management of the company and plays a key role in the definition and implementation of our strategy, including mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Accelya in 2007, José María headed finance for Siemens VDO Automotive in Spain and France for more than 10 years. José María started his professional career at KPMG.

Jeff is our Chief Operating Officer, responsible for our Knowledge Process Outsourcing, Delivery, IT, and Security functions supporting the broader organization and our customers. Jeff previously led operations at Farelogix, where he helped develop and implement new strategies, processes, and technologies to support customer growth and retention. He has a deep background in the travel and hospitality space, ranging from engagements with full-service and low-cost airlines to working with customers in the accommodations, transport, and tours and activities sector. Jeff has held leadership roles in various companies prior and continues to focus on operations, delivery, and culture through digital transformations.

Klaas is our EVP for Cargo & Industry Solutions, with more than 20 years of experience in the airline transport industry at SITA. During this period, Klaas gained a wealth of experience and industry knowledge. He has held various roles that include leading sales and account management teams in northern Europe and managing airport solutions business in Europe. He was also previously responsible for mergers and acquisitions and completed several acquisition projects successfully. Klaas is based in the Barcelona head office.

Brian is our Chief Technology Officer, with more the 20 years of experience in the technology sector. He has significant international experience, having worked in Europe, the US and the Middle East, and has spent 14 years in the travel industry. He has been with us since 2016. In that time, he has held several leading roles, including directing product development and innovation. This added to his extensive regional expertise, making him the ideal person to lead the technological challenges of a global company.

Susan joined us in 2016 as EVP Corporate Management & Planning and oversees Accelya’s strategic planning and M&A activities, whilst providing leadership of the Project Management Office for key value creation programmes including post-merger integration, change management and margin improvement initiatives. Before joining Accelya, she was the group CFO of CHAMP Cargosystems and has also held senior roles in finance and M&A with SITA and British Airways during a 25+ year career serving the airline industry. Having lived and worked in several countries and with a penchant for travel, Susan brings a wealth of international and multi-cultural experience. She is a Chartered Accountant, qualifying with PWC in London and is based out of our UK office in Camberley.

Berry is our Chief Human Resources Officer. He has over 20 years of human resources management experience in the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan. He has led HR for multiple global organizations including Disney, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. In addition to his work in HR, Berry has also collaborated with the EU and the UN in establishing visa and transit procedures for foreign nationals working in the maritime industry, as well as the development of labor regulations at sea. Berry is passionate about travel, having spent his career in the cruise, hotel, and air industries.

Tim is our Chief Innovation Officer. Tim joined us as part of our acquisition of Farelogix, where he had been Chief Technology Officer since 2004. Tim is the architect and leader behind Farelogix’s ground-breaking, next-generation airline retailing and NDC. With PASS Consulting, where he served as CEO North America, Tim built the XX1 server that normalizes GDS messages using XML for the travel sector. Prior to working with PASS, he was part of the development organization for Amadeus S.A. in France. He began his career with Congress Incentive Travel Service GmbH in Germany.