Ann Cleveland-Oey, global sourcing director, Indirect Materials and Services, Konecranes, is to be the new regional chair for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) European region.

With over 30 years experience in the business travel sector and purchasing and supply chain management, Helsinki based Cleveland-Oey, started her career with Hotel InterContinental Helsinki.

She has held senior global travel management and purchasing roles with leading companies including Wärtsilä Corporation and Toolo Travel.

Cleveland-Oey is an active member of ACTE and has served on numerous global, regional and local ACTE Steering Committees over the past eight years.

Commenting on her new role Cleveland-Oey said: “I am delighted to be offered this exciting opportunity.

“Yves and previous Regional Chairs have solidified ACTE’s place in Europe, and I look forward to continuing their great work. It is now more important than ever for us to work together with our members and volunteers to forge new paths, build new relationships, and find collective and creative solutions to unprecedented challenges.”

As regional chair, Europe, Cleveland-Oey will lead the European Council, which is made up of member volunteers and focuses on delivering innovative and interesting educational programmes and services to ACTE members across Europe.

Cleveland-Oey’s focus as European Regional Chair will be to increase participation in ACTE educational and professional development initiatives among those in the European corporate travel industry as well as globally, while bringing those issues to the forefront which are of keen interest to both buyers and suppliers.

Commenting on the announcement, Yves Galimidi, ACTE board member, Europe, said: “Not only does Ann bring an enormous amount of experience and expertise to this vital position within ACTE’s regional structure, she also brings a dynamism to the position.

“I am confident Ann’s appointment will see ACTE and its European programme grow from strength to strength and continue to ensure that business travel professionals’ collective voice is heard in the dynamic European market.”