The PIDGEWEST Team
Alain van West
President and Co-Founder
President and Co-Founder
Biography
Alain has spent 16 years working in the travel industry, for companies such as The Walt Disney Company, British Airways, US Airways, Eurostar, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and BCD Travel at senior levels. He has gathered management experience and specialised in distribution, setups and change management within these companies. Alain has worked and lived in numerous different European countries, and his last 4 positions were of a global nature. Alain has extensively travelled for work to the USA, within Europe and Asia.
Frédéric Philippon
Chief Financial Officer
Biography
Frédéric has been Chief Financial Officer in various industries, from housing, to building, distribution, import. Frédéric was also the Managing Director of subsidiaries, board member, and has on numerous occasions been a key player in times of mergers, restructure and change. Frédéric holds a diploma in Finance and a masters in accounting and finance.
Virginia van West
Director and Co-Founder
Biography
Virginia has worked for the past 5 years in the Corporate Travel Industry, for both Carlson Wagonlit Travel and BCD Travel. As a New Zealander, Virginia has lived and subsequently worked in several European countries, including: Hungary, France and the UK. Virginia boasts a Young Achievers Award in Ballet from her native New Zealand.
Director and Co-Founder
Biography
Virginia has worked for the past 5 years in the Corporate Travel Industry, for both Carlson Wagonlit Travel and BCD Travel. As a New Zealander, Virginia has lived and subsequently worked in several European countries, including: Hungary, France and the UK. Virginia boasts a Young Achievers Award in Ballet from her native New Zealand.
Liliana Frigerio
Chief Commercial Officer
Biography
Liliana was born in the north of Italy and grew up in South America and South Africa where she completed her economic studies. Bilingual in Italian/English, she also speaks excellent French.
In the early 70’s, she returned to Italy to further her studies in Perugia where she later worked at the then IBP – Industrie Buitoni Perugina (since bought by Nestlé) for 15 years. She left Perugina as Marketing Responsible for the company’s core product, Baci.
Her inborn entrepreneurship led her to change industries and accept a challenge in a very different industry – that of travel – where she spent 16 years in various leadership roles based in Italy, France and USA, and travelling the four corners of the world at Carlson Wagonlit Travel in her role as Executive Vice President Global Accounts and Solutions.
Chief Commercial Officer
Biography
Liliana was born in the north of Italy and grew up in South America and South Africa where she completed her economic studies. Bilingual in Italian/English, she also speaks excellent French.
In the early 70’s, she returned to Italy to further her studies in Perugia where she later worked at the then IBP – Industrie Buitoni Perugina (since bought by Nestlé) for 15 years. She left Perugina as Marketing Responsible for the company’s core product, Baci.
Her inborn entrepreneurship led her to change industries and accept a challenge in a very different industry – that of travel – where she spent 16 years in various leadership roles based in Italy, France and USA, and travelling the four corners of the world at Carlson Wagonlit Travel in her role as Executive Vice President Global Accounts and Solutions.
Steven Jhangiani
Global Marketing Director
Biography
Steven spent 11 years with Citibank in Tampa, Florida; New York, London and Dubai. Steven’s varied roles and areas of the bank included Technology Project Management, Securities Product Development, supporting M&A Due Diligence efforts from a Technology Perspective, and most recently as the Head of Procurement for the UAE. Steven was raised in Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States and has a BS in Information Systems as well as an MBA in International Business.
Global Marketing Director
Biography
Steven spent 11 years with Citibank in Tampa, Florida; New York, London and Dubai. Steven’s varied roles and areas of the bank included Technology Project Management, Securities Product Development, supporting M&A Due Diligence efforts from a Technology Perspective, and most recently as the Head of Procurement for the UAE. Steven was raised in Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States and has a BS in Information Systems as well as an MBA in International Business.
Aart (Hans) Korteweg
Director
Biography
Hans Korteweg is an experienced travel & transportation executive and business entrepreneur.
Hans has a Law Doctorate and a degree in Political and Economic Sciences. He spent 25 years at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines where he was Vice President Alliances at the time of partnerships with Northwest, Continental and Alitalia; he was a senior negotiator during the takeover by Air France. Subsequently, Hans has held a President position for BCD Travel in both France and The Netherlands, and has also started up his own ventures such as MySky Participation Company and Skyters B.V.
Director
Biography
Hans Korteweg is an experienced travel & transportation executive and business entrepreneur.
Hans has a Law Doctorate and a degree in Political and Economic Sciences. He spent 25 years at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines where he was Vice President Alliances at the time of partnerships with Northwest, Continental and Alitalia; he was a senior negotiator during the takeover by Air France. Subsequently, Hans has held a President position for BCD Travel in both France and The Netherlands, and has also started up his own ventures such as MySky Participation Company and Skyters B.V.
Shaun Sowerby
Director
Biography
Shaun Sowerby is a professional rugby player who currently plays for Stade Toulousain in the top French rugby competition, the Top 14. His career has seen him play for Stade Français, as well as captaining the Natal Sharks. He has also played for the Springboks where he made his debut against Samoa. He boasts numerous medals and honours in a fine rugby career, including winning the French Top 14 championship and the Heineken Cup (European Cup), with the Stade Toulousain.
Shaun is also an accomplished entrepreneur and has been involved in numerous property developments in South Africa, amongst which an impressive delivery of 20 units in a prestigious domain in Ballito, South Africa.
Director
Biography
Shaun Sowerby is a professional rugby player who currently plays for Stade Toulousain in the top French rugby competition, the Top 14. His career has seen him play for Stade Français, as well as captaining the Natal Sharks. He has also played for the Springboks where he made his debut against Samoa. He boasts numerous medals and honours in a fine rugby career, including winning the French Top 14 championship and the Heineken Cup (European Cup), with the Stade Toulousain.
Shaun is also an accomplished entrepreneur and has been involved in numerous property developments in South Africa, amongst which an impressive delivery of 20 units in a prestigious domain in Ballito, South Africa.
Terry Ryan
Biography
Terry has experienced 30 years at IBM initially managing an Environmental Engineering group, moving to Corporate Education and in the early 90’s was involved in IBM’s procurement transformation of procurement. She has 18 years of travel experience completing the first global agency and corporate card consolidation for IBM which covered over 40 countries. With no trail blazers in this area at that time she continued to globally consolidate IBM’s travel programs. She has a track record of providing savings, being innovated and developing excellent supplier and client relationships. She then moved to IBM’s Global Services Division and was a travel consultant for multiple fortune 100 companies using her expertise to providing programs that fit the companies culture, increased customer satisfaction and delivered savings to the corporation. Terry then worked at Porter Airlines as their manager of sales for the Eastern USA. Porter is a regional airline based in Toronto Ontario. Terry developed and implemented the eastern US market for Porter.
Biography
Terry has experienced 30 years at IBM initially managing an Environmental Engineering group, moving to Corporate Education and in the early 90’s was involved in IBM’s procurement transformation of procurement. She has 18 years of travel experience completing the first global agency and corporate card consolidation for IBM which covered over 40 countries. With no trail blazers in this area at that time she continued to globally consolidate IBM’s travel programs. She has a track record of providing savings, being innovated and developing excellent supplier and client relationships. She then moved to IBM’s Global Services Division and was a travel consultant for multiple fortune 100 companies using her expertise to providing programs that fit the companies culture, increased customer satisfaction and delivered savings to the corporation. Terry then worked at Porter Airlines as their manager of sales for the Eastern USA. Porter is a regional airline based in Toronto Ontario. Terry developed and implemented the eastern US market for Porter.
Olivia Chye
Chief Executive Officer – Asia
Biography
Olivia has accomplished senior positions in the Travel Industry for 40 years. She worked with Harpers Travel (British Travel Company), Jetset Travel (Australian Travel Company) and Carlson Wagonlit Travel Management Company (A global company). With her wealth of experience in the travel industry and strong leadership, she led a team of leaders in South East Asia and instrumental significant business growth resulted in incremental profits for the travel companies. She has a proven track record in leading her South East Asia’s team to become the ‘best customer service’ organisations in the challenging travel industry.
Chief Executive Officer – Asia
Biography
Olivia has accomplished senior positions in the Travel Industry for 40 years. She worked with Harpers Travel (British Travel Company), Jetset Travel (Australian Travel Company) and Carlson Wagonlit Travel Management Company (A global company). With her wealth of experience in the travel industry and strong leadership, she led a team of leaders in South East Asia and instrumental significant business growth resulted in incremental profits for the travel companies. She has a proven track record in leading her South East Asia’s team to become the ‘best customer service’ organisations in the challenging travel industry.
Mahesh Dalamal
Managing Director – Middle East & India
Biography
Mahesh graduated from Kings College, University of London with a degree in Business Management and French. After spending several years in the Financial Services Industry in London he moved to Dubai where he launched Gulf Relocation Services, which has developed into the leading player in the Industry over the last 5 years and boasts an impressive client list comprising of global firms like Siemens, Tetrapak, Clyde and Co, Grey Advertising and Generali Insurance. He has travelled extensively around the US, Europe, India, Africa, the Far East and the Middle East both for work and pleasure.
Managing Director – Middle East & India
Biography
Mahesh graduated from Kings College, University of London with a degree in Business Management and French. After spending several years in the Financial Services Industry in London he moved to Dubai where he launched Gulf Relocation Services, which has developed into the leading player in the Industry over the last 5 years and boasts an impressive client list comprising of global firms like Siemens, Tetrapak, Clyde and Co, Grey Advertising and Generali Insurance. He has travelled extensively around the US, Europe, India, Africa, the Far East and the Middle East both for work and pleasure.
Alfred Gilbert
Managing Director – North America
Biography
Alfred has a Masters Degree in International Administration, and 30 years experience in the travel industry. Starting as an international travel coordinator for the AFS Intercultural Programs, Alfred's career has spanned the breadth of travel from airlines (Pan American) to corporate travel management companies (Thomas Cook, BCD, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel), to independent sales representation for regional travel management companies. Based in Brisbane, California in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Managing Director – North America
Biography
Alfred has a Masters Degree in International Administration, and 30 years experience in the travel industry. Starting as an international travel coordinator for the AFS Intercultural Programs, Alfred's career has spanned the breadth of travel from airlines (Pan American) to corporate travel management companies (Thomas Cook, BCD, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel), to independent sales representation for regional travel management companies. Based in Brisbane, California in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Peter Fitzmaurice
Business Development Director - United Kingdom
Biography
Peter has spent over 20 years working in the publishing and professional service industry at a senior level, many of them working for the international publisher Wolters Kluwer in the UK under the Croner brand. His particular expertise lies in innovation, product management and marketing and he holds an MA in Strategic Market Planning. He has led marketing and project teams to deliver the successful development and launch of many online propositions.
Monika Pagel
Business Development Manager – Belgium
Biography
Monika was born in Africa where she spent most of her childhood. After her studies in Brussels, she spent the first 20 years of the professional life working in sales in Europe, Africa and South America for a wide range of industries. She now lives back in Brussels where she launched, several years ago, her own personal assistance service. She enjoys challenges and finding the best solutions for her clients’ requests.
Business Development Manager – Belgium
Biography
Monika was born in Africa where she spent most of her childhood. After her studies in Brussels, she spent the first 20 years of the professional life working in sales in Europe, Africa and South America for a wide range of industries. She now lives back in Brussels where she launched, several years ago, her own personal assistance service. She enjoys challenges and finding the best solutions for her clients’ requests.
Luca Pasquino
Business Development Manager - France
Biography
Luca is an experienced travel industry entrepreneur, with 20 years’ experience. He has spent the past 11 years managing his own tour operator business – organising events, tours and travel for his clients all over France. His career has enabled him to travel a lot, gaining a wealth of experience in customer service, management, sales and marketing.
Business Development Manager - France
Biography
Luca is an experienced travel industry entrepreneur, with 20 years’ experience. He has spent the past 11 years managing his own tour operator business – organising events, tours and travel for his clients all over France. His career has enabled him to travel a lot, gaining a wealth of experience in customer service, management, sales and marketing.
