Hogg Robinson Group has announced the appointment of Joe Birrell as General Manager for HRG Westminster Hong Kong, effective 1 October 2008.
Birrell brings nearly 25 years of experience within the corporate travel industry to this role where he will be responsible for the strategic management of HRG Westminster Hong Kong, driving the business forward.

Birrell joined HRG in 1984 as a business travel consultant and has since held a variety of senior management roles in operations, sales and business development. Most recently he was responsible for a number of HRG’s multinational clients in Europe, Middle East and Africa, playing an integral role in multi-country implementation of new business and client strategy planning. He also has considerable experience of the Asian business culture gained during his time as a business development manager working with a world renowned Japanese company.

“I am pleased to welcome Joe into his new role. He has a distinguished track record of sales success, broad and deep customer relationships and a solid understanding of the technologies and solutions driving our own and our clients’ businesses,” says Kevin Ruffles, President AsPac & Europe at HRG. “I am convinced that his focus on quality and service will be of great benefit to our clients and he will lead HRG Westminster Hong Kong to its next level of success.”

Recognising Greg Treasure, the incumbent General Manager, who is returning to his native Australia, Kevin Ruffles added: “I want to sincerely thank Greg Treasure for his ardent dedication and visionary leadership during his tenure as General Manager. Greg has successfully grown the business resulting in our recent move to larger premises because of expanded operations. He has developed a truly inspiring work environment and we now have a waiting list of recruits eager to join us. I wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Commenting on his new challenge, Birrell said: “There are few industries as dynamic as the corporate travel industry, and there can be few cities in the world as vibrant and as energetic as Hong Kong. I am excited to be taking the helm and am looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with our clients, our partners, the team at HRG Westminster Hong Kong and my new colleagues in the AsPac region.”

Birrell, a Scotsman, is married with three grown up daughters. He enjoys all sports with a keen interest in football and golf. On his move to Hong Kong he commented: “This is the kind of opportunity that comes rarely in a person’s career. I am very much looking forward to embracing the new opportunity of living and working in this wonderful city.”
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