Head of Distribution Innovation

Company Name: Etihad Employment Type: Full Time Monthly Salary: Unspecified Minimum Work Experience: 10-15 Years Minimum Education Level: Bachelors Degree Listed By: Employer Career Level: Mid-level Description: Etihad is seeking a person who take understand and develop distribution holistically for all Etihad breaking down traditional silos of direct and indirect channels. There is a wealth of new alternative distribution tools being developed in the market place, Etihad needs a person who can understand the way the future distribution is heading and build a 10 year road map that will incorporate the best of these new technologies that best meet the distribution needs of the Etihad and Etihad Airways Partner (EAP) business model. This person will understand the existing Etihad distribution platform of today and build the path of distribution innovation & transformation over the next decade that moves Etihad away from the traditional direct and indirect distribution silo approach and GDS contract style management practices of today. Specifically, Etihad, with it world class product, have developed branded fares. Customized products better meeting guest needs are the future. Merchandising is critical to complementing branded fares and this job post will be a key stakeholder in the product development and formulation of the merchandising strategy. This means recommending and understanding the technology platform Etihad will need to position itself best to optimize these revenues flows. In the near future the challenge for the distribution framework will need to be able to incorporate and adapt to New Distribution Capabilities (NDC) and enable and align with Etihad’s digital guest innovation strategy. Ensuring all touch points with Etihad’s valued guests is best in class through the efficient and correct exchange of information leading to an enhanced guest experience. An ability to work across the whole Etihad Commercial and operational business is essential. Ultimately the personal interaction with guests through the enhanced guest experience will lead to the distribution platform that is enabled to deliver personalized guest offers. JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES Develop Etihad’s distribution innovation road map for next 10 years moving from customization to personalization. Building in all distribution arms in the business both direct and indirect. Accounting for industry reform and innovation. Be a key stakeholder in the development of merchandising strategy. Majorly, what products are sold in the context of Etihad Brand. But more importantly formulate when and how in the booking to travel timeline they are sold and what in what booking flows or customer touch points. Be Etihad’s key strategic stakeholder for the distribution platform of EAP group. Be Etihad’s industry expert in NDC capabilities the new IATA industry standard and prepare Etihad and lead into the next generation of distribution. Develop metrics that reflect the true cost of sale for distribution highlighting the costs for example of direct versus indirect versus airline partner distribution. Managing the performance of the GDS Distribution costs to budget. Negotiate the GDS contracts when they come up for renewal. Amadeus and Travel port. This is worth 100m USD to Etihad in 2014. Maintain and keep running the GDS selling user platforms for Etihad which account for >70% of all Sales Revenue. Control the costs of GDS by developing reporting to GMs for active GDS management. Identify and project manage the implementation of Commercial initiatives with airline and non-airline partners related to improvement of distribution. The role will operate within a pressured environment with aggressive timelines and objectives involving external and internal resources and game changing financial outcomes including development of and execution of complex strategies involving negotiations, new business models, new systems and process implementation together with internal and external communication. QUALIFICATION & EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Educated to degree level with at least 10 years relevant airline experience, of which a significant proportion must have been in managing an airline Distribution function and development of Ancillary revenue Detailed knowledge of Airline, sales and distribution, customer strategy and developments Excellent written and verbal communication skills Advanced analytical capability Excellent project management skills About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2015 carried 17.4 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to or has announced plans to serve 116 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of around 120 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with approximately 200 aircraft on firm order, including 66 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and five Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional. Etihad Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com