LEADERSHIP TEAM
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Jamie Pherous
CEO/Managing Director
Jamie Pherous, CEO/Managing Director, founded Corporate Travel Management in 1994. He has built the company from its headquarters in Brisbane to become the largest privately-owned travel management company in Australia and, in late 2010, became successfully listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The Company today employs more than 500 staff.
Prior to establishing Corporate Travel Management, Jamie was employed by Arthur Andersen (now Ernst & Young) as a chartered accountant specialising in business services and the financial consulting division in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the United Arab Emirates.
Jamie was also a major shareholder and co-founder of an online hotel booking engine Quickbeds.com.au which was sold to Flight Centre Group in 2003.
His core strengths include strategic planning, growth and development, risk management and technology. In recognition of his role in overseeing Corporate Travel Management’s strong growth, Jamie has twice been a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Laura Ruffles
Chief Executive Officer AU/NZ
Laura Ruffles, Corporate Travel Management’s Chief Executive Officer Australia & New Zealand, has significant local, regional and global industry experience. In a career of nearly 20 years, she has led teams across strategy, operations, product development, relationship management, sales, business planning and technology.
Laura’s responsibilities at Corporate Travel Management include team leadership and establishing, managing and optimising sales performance, service delivery, client satisfaction, employee retention and profitability to achieve the company’s business goals. Her strengths include managing leadership performance, strategy and business planning, sales and client management, process engineering and optimisation.
Prior to joining Corporate Travel Management Laura was a Director at American Express, where she was responsible for managing the small and medium enterprises business function.
Steve Fleming
Chief Financial Officer
Steve Fleming is responsible for Corporate Travel Management’s finance function, treasury management, key stakeholder liaison, and strategic planning in conjunction with the Managing Director and Board.
Steve has more than 20 years’ experience in commercial finance roles gained with high growth companies across a number of industries and countries including Abbey National, TrizecHahn, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Arthur Andersen. Prior to joining Corporate Travel Management in 2009, Steve was Group Finance Manager for one of Australia’s largest retailers, Super Cheap Auto.
His expertise includes financial management, treasury, corporate transactions and finance strategy. A qualified accountant, Steve is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Claire Gray
Executive Director Global Development
Claire Gray brings 29 years’ experience to Corporate Travel Management. Her career within the travel industry began in 1984 at Harvey World Travel. In 1989, Claire joined with Craig Smith to form independent travel management companies Travelogic - which merged with Corporate Travel Management in 2008 to create the largest privately owned business travel agency in Australasia at that time - and Macquarie Travel servicing Macquarie Bank.
Ms Gray currently holds senior roles as Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific region and Operating Committee member to the Global Board of the GlobalStar alliance of international travel management companies, which represents more than US$13 billion in sales.
In addition to holding a Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management, Claire undertook CEO Management Training at the CEO Institute and continues to engage in ACTE courses in ‘Best in Practice Business’.
Craig Smith
Head of Key Stakeholder Relations
Craig Smith was instrumental in the merger of Travelogic, one of Australia’s largest independent corporate travel management operations, with Corporate Travel Management in 2008.
Craig established Travelogic with Claire Gray in 1989. He oversaw the company’s growth into a $135 million enterprise servicing clients primarily in the Sydney market, including the Macquarie Group, PSN, Acergy, CIT Group, Nice Systems and Navini Network.
Craig has also held several sales and marketing roles for multinational organisations. He is the current President of the Association of Travel Management Companies, which represents the interests of Australian travel management organisations with combined revenues exceeding $3 billion, and previously was President of the Business Travel Agents Association of Australia.
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Andrea Joseph
Manager - Internal Services
Andrea Joseph is an experienced HR Professional. Moving to CTM in Jan 2012 Andrea brings a proven track record in developing successful solutions and delivering profitable business outcomes. She has had a variety of experiences in her 14 years in the Finance Industry, particularly in all aspects of HR, L&D, Project Management, and IT. Prior to joining CTM Andrea was a leader who designed and delivered a Leadership Cultural Change initiative at Suncorp. Andrea’s education and accreditations include a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in HR and IR, and she is an Accredited Level 2 Executive Coach. Andrea supports significant business infrastructure and is responsible for the Internal Services Team which includes IT, Product Development, Client Services, the Solutions Team, and HR Services. These areas are accountable for supporting the CTM business by communicating, collaborating and providing clarity and confidence across CTM. When it comes to product development at CTM, Andrea and the Internal Services Team strive to take a collaborative, flexible approach to building compelling needs-driven solutions for our clients.
Thomas Clark
Head of Marketing & Technology Solutions
Thomas Clark is responsible for the marketing and technology strategies of Corporate Travel Management.Having extensive experience in the travel industry across both technology development as well as digital marketing and communications, Tom brings a high level of strategic thinking to these disciplines within the organisation. Prior to CTM, Tom lead the technology and digital marketing strategies for several of Australia’s leading online travel brands including time spent building globally recognised and highly awarded e-commerce platforms within the travel youth sector. Previous to this Tom lead the Group Sales and Marketing Strategies within News Limited’s NewsNet division. Here he was responsible for developing, on behalf of the country’s biggest brands, integrated marketing strategies across all of the groups media assets. Today, Tom’s key strengths lie in travel technology development and digital strategy, through the identification of emerging and future technology trends. Tom was awarded the 2013 ATMC Young Executive of the Year, and also holds a Masters in Marketing, a CPM and is an Associate Member of the Australian Marketing Institute.
Robert A. Polk
CEO, Polk Corporate Travel Management (USA)
Robert A. Polk is CEO of Polk Corporate Travel Management, CTM’s North American headquarters. Robert earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Mississippi in 1977, just 80 miles south of his birthplace in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been successfully navigating the travel industry since 1980 and is well known for his ethical business practices and his ability to retain and motivate employees. The avid championship-winning golfer is often quoted in local and national publications, including The Denver Business Journal, ColoradoBiz Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal on topics related to travel. His weekly newsletter, Polk CTM Industry News, is widely read and enjoyed by thousands of subscribers. His simple business philosophy, “If we strive to be the best, our future is unlimited!” resulted in Polk Travel growing its business clientele to nearly 500 corporations. Robert demonstrates a deep commitment to the success of the Colorado community and sits on the Board for The St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. He is also Director for the Western Golf Association, acting as an ambassador for their Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship Program, and is on the Board of Directors for The Colorado Golf Association, and chairman of the Tournament Committee.
Matthew Cantelo
Chief Operating Officer North America
Matthew (‘Matt’) Cantelo was appointed a Director of Corporate Travel Management in 2001 following a merger with Rhodes Corporate Travel, a corporate travel management company he established in 1997.
Matt has 13 years experience in the travel industry. He previously held management roles with STA Travel before specialising in the development of service niches within the corporate travel and entertainment industry.
Matt was responsible for establishing Corporate Travel Management’s Sydney branch in 2003 and in 2012 relocated to Denver USA to oversee CTM's first US acquisition.
His expertise includes account management, sales, operations and IT, and he also has significant experience in change management.
Kim Wethmar
General Manager NSW
Kim brings 20 years of travel industry experience to her role at CTM. Her travel career started in South Africa before she moved to Sydney in 2005, where she managed eight implant offices for various blue-chip customers, including Microsoft and SAP. Kim’s travel journey has included the role of Head of Account Management for Travelogic, where collaboratively she worked on implementing new business strategies, strategic account business planning and a robust service delivery, before she moved to the role of Regional Client Value Manager role in 2008 as part of Travelogic’s merger with CTM. Kim held this role until she was appointed as General Manager for CTM’s New South Wales operations in mid-2012. Kim’s areas of expertise include building trusting customer partnerships and relationships, enhancing strategic alignment, delivering tangible cost reduction strategies, and an acute understanding of tailored solutions to fit customer specific needs. Kim is passionate about delivering value at every opportunity!
Matt Dalling
General Manager VIC
Matt Dalling managed Rhodes Corporate Travel with Matt Cantelo, a corporate travel agency servicing the entertainment industry. In 2001, the company merged with Corporate Travel Management and Matt was appointed to the Board of Directors. He has also held positions with STA Travel, Woolworths and Freshermans.
Matt continues to run Corporate Travel Management’s high growth Victorian office and various project- related initiatives. His key strengths are strategic consulting and client and people management.
Andre Moten
General Manager QLD
Andre Moten joined Corporate Travel Management in 2001. By capturing new market niches within the MICE, mining, pharmaceutical, automotive and other industries, Andre has contributed to the company’s business growth from an $18 million turnover in 2001 to its current turnover of $681 million in 2012.
Andre has significant business development experience in both the public and private sectors. His former senior positions include Director of the Queensland State Government’s Olympic 2000 Task Force, managing the delivery of $2 billion of economic impacts for Queensland from the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and Group Sales Manager for Queensland with Ansett Australia.
Glenn Wilcox
General Manager WA
In 2012 Glenn Wilcox took on the role of General Manager for CTM’s Western Australia operations following four years as CTM Regional Client Value Manager (WA). With his entire 16 year travel industry career based in the West, Glenn is a resources and mining travel specialist who has experienced all facets of travel after working not only in the corporate sphere but also in the retail market and for a major airline. Awarded as CTM’s staff member of the year at the 2011 CTM All Stars awards, Glenn is a self-motivated, goal-driven individual with a keen sense for client management, strategic business planning, leadership and people development.
John Lewis
General Manager New Zealand
John Lewis has considerable industry experience having first joined Corporate Travel Management in 1998 to 2000 working as a domestic consultant, international consultant and office manager. During this time he worked through all aspects of the business and played a key role in Corporate Travel Management’s early growth from four consultants to approximately 30 employees. Following a brief stint managing a family smallgoods business, John rejoined Corporate Travel Management in September 2001 as Manager, Business Analysis & Solutions (QLD). This role included business development, account implementation and strategic account management activities. During this time he developed an expertise within the PNG mining & minerals market with key clients and maintenance of ongoing supplier relationships. In July 2010 he was appointed to the role of General Manager, New Zealand responsible for Corporate Travel Management’s first international acquisition, Cavalier Corporate Travel Management in Remuera, Auckland. His responsibilities include alignment of corporate and local priorities including implementation of CTM systems, technology and growth objectives.
Prior to joining Corporate Travel Management, John commenced his career in the travel industry in 1996. He has extensive management experience in industries including tourism and leisure, agriculture, and timber manufacturing.