Darren Rudd has been announced as the new CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). Today (Monday 29 June 2020) will be Mr Rudd’s first official day in his new role.
AFTA Chair Tom Manwaring announced on Friday that the AFTA Board had selected Mr Rudd after a rigorous executive recruitment process, following the resignation of former ceo Jayson Westbury.
“Darren is an outstanding choice, with a wealth of experience across business and stakeholder management. The skills and networks he brings to the role will be invaluable as we navigate the new and emerging industry landscape.”
Mr Rudd joins AFTA from the global information services business Tata Consultancy Services where he has served as Head of Corporate Affairs in Australia and New Zealand for the past four years.
He brings to the organisation extensive experience in strategic marketing and corporate engagement, including 11 years as GM Services Business Group Asia/Pacific for Alcatel-Lucent and five years as Lead Corporate Affairs Manager at NBN. The appointment also marks full circle for the new CEO. Mr Rudd began his career in Hong Kong designing core Hotel Information Systems (HIS/IBM).
“It is an honour to join AFTA at this critical time. I look forward to working with members, the Board and industry stakeholders as we work our way through the current economic difficulties and the challenges that lie ahead,” said Mr Rudd.
“The future is very different to that which we imagined 6 months ago. Yet travel and tourism remain cornerstones of the Australian economy. It is important that governments and regulators understand that getting the policy and regulatory settings right will not only help the sector but contribute substantially to the nation’s overall economic wellbeing.”
