Global airline alliance Star Alliance recently firmed up its key management appointments aimed at further enhancing its strategic focus on a seamless experience for member airline customers as they benefit from the Star Alliance network.

Star Alliance chief executive Theo Panagiotoulias said of these appointments: “I am delighted to work with such a diverse leadership team. They bring their extensive experience from within and outside the aviation industry to fast-track our mission of delivering a seamless customer experience at key touch points in their travels.”

He added that these new appointees are passionate about Star Alliance’s vision and executing on it, always with member airlines’ end-customer in mind.

Meet the team

Ambar Franco joins Star Alliance as vice-president for customer experience. Franco will lead the development and implementation of initiatives designed to enhance the overall customer journey across the alliance: their booking experience, the experience of customers at airports and when they connect between Star Alliance member airlines, and then to ensure their continuing loyalty post travel. She brings significant expertise from the travel industry, most recently having held senior customer experience related roles at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Luc Lachoix is Star Alliance’s vice-president for digital and technology. Lachoix is responsible for IT architecture, operations, and security, as well as supporting the IT needs of Star Alliance’s Customer Experience and Loyalty business areas. He has served in various roles in the airline industry, including leadership positions at key travel technology companies including Amadeus and Sabre.

Renato Ramos is the new vice-president for strategy. Ramos drives Star Alliance’s strategic initiatives, business planning, and cross-functional collaboration. Engaged at Star Alliance for the last seven years, he previously served as Director, Loyalty at Star Alliance. Ramos is a seasoned aviation expert who has held previous roles at Avianca and LATAM Airlines.

Gayatheri Silvakumer was appointed vice-president for people and culture. In this capacity, she leads the implementation of Star Alliance’s human capital and cultural development vision, focusing on talent retention and organisational development. She has held several senior HR roles across various industries, working with organisations such as McCann Worldgroup, Bombardier, and Rolls-Royce.