Worldspan

have announced the appointment of Ninan Chacko to the position of senior vice president - Product Planning.  The new position consolidates product planning and marketing communications functions for Worldspan’s traditional and online travel agencies, travel suppliers and corporate customers.

“Ninan is an extremely talented executive and he brings a wealth of skills and expertise to Worldspan’s operations,” said Rakesh Gangwal, Worldspan chairman, president and chief executive officer. 

Previously, Chacko served as senior vice president of Emerging Business at Sabre Holdings, where he led the development, launch and operation of the company’s hotel merchant business in the travel agency channel.  Prior to that, he served in a variety of leadership roles at Sabre, including senior vice president of Marketing for Travel Marketing and Distribution, now known as Sabre Travel Network.  In that position he was responsible for strategy, industry affairs, marketing planning, advertising, public relations, event planning and brand communications.  In addition, he served as Sabre’s senior vice president of Information Technology Services, where he helped establish the company’s IT outsourcing business and developed strategies for global airline alliances. 

Chacko began his career as manager of Airline Engineering Services for System One.  In 1990, he joined American Airlines’ Decision Technologies group, eventually rising to run all of Sales and Marketing worldwide for the Airline Solutions business unit at Sabre Holdings. He was educated in Asia, Europe and the U.S., earning master’s and bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering at the University of Kansas.  He also graduated from Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. 
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