FORT WORTH, Texas - Theo Panagiotoulias, who has been deeply involved in the Asia/Pacific travel industry for more than 12 years, has been named by American Airlines as its managing director for the Asia/South Pacific Region, based in Hong Kong.

Panagiotoulias succeeds Nancy Knipp, who has become American’s managing director for Japan.

“Theo has demonstrated exceptional leadership and business development abilities in a number of key assignments in the Asia/Pacific region,” said Bella D. Goren, American’s vice president - Customer Service Planning and the Pacific Division. “These qualities, combined with his extensive knowledge of the Pacific market, will be invaluable assets as American continues to expand its presence throughout the important Asia and South Pacific market.”

A native of Melbourne, Panagiotoulias joined American in 1997 as its manager for Southern Australia after working for several years for Jetset Tours, a major Australian travel company. In 1998, he was assigned to Singapore as American’s regional manager for SouthEast Asia and the Indian sub-continent. Two years later, he moved to Tokyo to assume his most recent position as Pacific Division manager of Corporate Sales. His achievements in that role include securing major corporate travel agreements and conducting an American Airlines Business Travel Forum for key global corporations that was the first conference of its type in the region.

Panagiotoulias studied at the British International School in Athens, Greece, and is a graduate of Haileybury College in Melbourne. He also has completed a number of courses and workshops at the Australian Institute of Management.

——-