Delta Air Lines has appointed Steve Sear as senior vice president – global sales.

Under his leadership the Delta sales organisation has become one of the biggest contributors to the airline’s strong financial performance.

Sear guided the group through the merger with Northwest Airlines and the subsequent integration of the Air France-KLM and Alitalia Joint Venture sales teams and customer contracting.

“This promotion reflects the impressive progress our entire sales group has made under Steve’s guidance and vision,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s president.

“His experience will help us continue to make Delta the strongly preferred airline for corporate travel and agency partners.”

In his current role, Sear oversees the airline’s worldwide sales programs and relationships with corporate customers and travel management companies.

He also oversees MLT Vacations, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta. To further coordinate Delta’s Latin America activities, reservations sales and North American sales team, Sear also will expand his scope to include customer care, reservation sales and the fast-growing Latin America region.

Sear was vice president of sales and customer care at Northwest Airlines from 2005 to 2008.

Before that he was named managing director of reservations in 2003, director of sales development in 1999, a Japan-based director of revenue for Northwest in 1995, manager of pricing in 1993 and joined the airline in 1992 as a pricing analyst.