ZUJI Appoints Scott Blume as Chief Executive Officer
Announcement posted by ZUJI 29 Nov 2002
ZUJI, the internet travel portal owned by 16 of Asia Pacific's leading airlines and Travelocity.com is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Blume, 43, as its Chief Executive Officer. He will be based at ZUJI's Headquarters in Singapore.
Scott has more than 13 years experience in the travel industry, most recently as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of ITG Limited (formerly Internet Travel Group), where he has led a significant turnaround in financial performance with the group returning to profitability during 2001/2002 after posting a loss of AU$5 million the previous year. As CEO and Director of an Australian Stock Exchange listed company, Scott has also had extensive dealings with the ASX, institutional investors and shareholders. At ITG, Scott has been responsible for the Group's three operating businesses in Australia and New Zealand. These businesses include TQ3 Travel Solutions for corporate business, The Events Centre, which organises event tours around the globe and throughout Asia Pacific, and Lumina Technologies which develops customised travel technologies including corporate online booking solutions. Scott also sits on the management board of TQ3 Travel Solutions.
Prior to joining ITG, Scott was General Manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Australia, where he played a key role in growing CWT's business in Australia and supporting its expansion into Asia. He joined CWT from Traveland, where he held the positions of Director of Retail Sales and Director of Finance and Administration over a nine-year period. Scott qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 and his early career included 10 years with Deloitte's, where he specialised in the audit of tourism and hospitality enterprises and was seconded for 18 months to the North American operation working in Houston, USA.
In his new role, Scott's key challenge will be to build into ZUJI into Asia Pacific's leading online travel portal. ZUJI launched in July 2002 in Australia and Singapore since when it has achieved a doubling of transactions every month and registered close to 100,000 members. It has established alliances with two of Asia Pacific's major internet portals whereby it will power travel channels for ninemsn in Australia and Yahoo! in Australia, Singapore and other Asian countries.
Scott is excited by the challenge ahead. "ZUJI's mission, as I see it, is to lead the evolution of online travel sales in Asia Pacific. From the initial results, it is clear that there is demand out there for a region-wide one-stop online travel portal. Looking at ZUJI's product development plans, including the roll-out of a state of the art air booking engine and a tours and packages capability, I have no doubt that we will be in a position to change the way customers in Asia Pacific buy travel, leveraging the advantages of the internet for the benefit of consumers and travel suppliers alike. I can't wait to get stuck into my new role in January 2003."
ZUJI's Chairman and GM e-Business and Regions at Cathay Pacific, Tim Fitzsimmons says, "We have conducted an extensive worldwide search to find the right person to lead ZUJI's drive towards profitability. The Board unanimously believes that Scott's strong track record, knowledge of the Asia Pacific travel industry and demonstrated leadership skills make him the ideal person to achieve the ambitious goals we have for ZUJI. We are delighted to have him on board."
Scott is married with 2 children and in his spare time is a keen golfer and swimmer.
***
About ZUJI
ZUJI (www.ZUJI.com) aims to be the leading business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) travel portal in Asia-Pacific. Through ZUJI, travellers can access a comprehensive range of travel products that include more than 400 airlines, 56,000 hotels and more than 50 car rental companies, giving travellers choice and control in creating their own journeys. The ZUJI experience is enhanced by best value pricing, excellent customer service and leading-edge technology that allows for speed and ease of navigation and innovative travel planning tools.
ZUJI is a joint venture of 16 leading airlines operating in Asia-Pacific and Travelocity.com, the world's most popular online travel service. The airlines are All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Japan Air System, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
Scott has more than 13 years experience in the travel industry, most recently as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of ITG Limited (formerly Internet Travel Group), where he has led a significant turnaround in financial performance with the group returning to profitability during 2001/2002 after posting a loss of AU$5 million the previous year. As CEO and Director of an Australian Stock Exchange listed company, Scott has also had extensive dealings with the ASX, institutional investors and shareholders. At ITG, Scott has been responsible for the Group's three operating businesses in Australia and New Zealand. These businesses include TQ3 Travel Solutions for corporate business, The Events Centre, which organises event tours around the globe and throughout Asia Pacific, and Lumina Technologies which develops customised travel technologies including corporate online booking solutions. Scott also sits on the management board of TQ3 Travel Solutions.
Prior to joining ITG, Scott was General Manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Australia, where he played a key role in growing CWT's business in Australia and supporting its expansion into Asia. He joined CWT from Traveland, where he held the positions of Director of Retail Sales and Director of Finance and Administration over a nine-year period. Scott qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 and his early career included 10 years with Deloitte's, where he specialised in the audit of tourism and hospitality enterprises and was seconded for 18 months to the North American operation working in Houston, USA.
In his new role, Scott's key challenge will be to build into ZUJI into Asia Pacific's leading online travel portal. ZUJI launched in July 2002 in Australia and Singapore since when it has achieved a doubling of transactions every month and registered close to 100,000 members. It has established alliances with two of Asia Pacific's major internet portals whereby it will power travel channels for ninemsn in Australia and Yahoo! in Australia, Singapore and other Asian countries.
Scott is excited by the challenge ahead. "ZUJI's mission, as I see it, is to lead the evolution of online travel sales in Asia Pacific. From the initial results, it is clear that there is demand out there for a region-wide one-stop online travel portal. Looking at ZUJI's product development plans, including the roll-out of a state of the art air booking engine and a tours and packages capability, I have no doubt that we will be in a position to change the way customers in Asia Pacific buy travel, leveraging the advantages of the internet for the benefit of consumers and travel suppliers alike. I can't wait to get stuck into my new role in January 2003."
ZUJI's Chairman and GM e-Business and Regions at Cathay Pacific, Tim Fitzsimmons says, "We have conducted an extensive worldwide search to find the right person to lead ZUJI's drive towards profitability. The Board unanimously believes that Scott's strong track record, knowledge of the Asia Pacific travel industry and demonstrated leadership skills make him the ideal person to achieve the ambitious goals we have for ZUJI. We are delighted to have him on board."
Scott is married with 2 children and in his spare time is a keen golfer and swimmer.
***
About ZUJI
ZUJI (www.ZUJI.com) aims to be the leading business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) travel portal in Asia-Pacific. Through ZUJI, travellers can access a comprehensive range of travel products that include more than 400 airlines, 56,000 hotels and more than 50 car rental companies, giving travellers choice and control in creating their own journeys. The ZUJI experience is enhanced by best value pricing, excellent customer service and leading-edge technology that allows for speed and ease of navigation and innovative travel planning tools.
ZUJI is a joint venture of 16 leading airlines operating in Asia-Pacific and Travelocity.com, the world's most popular online travel service. The airlines are All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Japan Air System, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.