Cathay, the Hong Kong-based premium travel lifestyle brand, today announced the appointment of Vinod Viswanathan as Regional Head of Corporate for South Asia, Middle East & Africa (SAMEA) and Talha Shaikh as Regional Head of Trade for India & Sri Lanka. In their new roles, Vinod will drive Cathay’s business growth and profitability within SAMEA, while Talha will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities and strategically optimising revenue across the company’s channel partners in India and Sri Lanka.
With over fifteen years of experience in aviation, corporate travel and global distribution, Vinod has held senior roles such as Head of Sales and Marketing – India and South Asia at Air Mauritius, in addition to roles with Flight Centre Travel Group, British Airways, Oman Air, and Travelport. Vinod’s robust experience across multiple commercial, strategic and people portfolios will enable Cathay to establish stronger partnerships, drive strategic initiatives and enhance overall performance in SAMEA, ultimately contributing to the company’s sustained growth and success. His extensive background in sales, marketing and strategy will play a vital role in advancing the business’s corporate functions in SAMEA.
Talha brings to the table over 16 years of diverse experience in Aviation Sales, Marketing, and Operations spanning various facets of the dynamic Aviation industry. Over the last 13 years at Cathay, Talha has showcased exceptional domain knowledge and analytical skills essential for driving new business opportunities in India and Sri Lanka. In his new role, he will leverage his extensive expertise in sales and strategic development to play a key role in amplifying Cathay’s market presence and success in the region.
Renowned for its service excellence, Cathay consistently sets new standards in premium travel and these appointments mark a significant step in the company’s journey, underlining its dedication to excellence and innovation as a premium travel lifestyle brand. With the backing of this new team, Cathay aims to enhance its offerings and elevate the customer travel experience, while also reinforcing the importance of South Asia, Middle East, and Africa to its business.
 and Talha Shaikh as Regional Head of Trade for India & Sri Lanka. In their new roles, Vinod will drive Cathay’s business growth and profitability within SAMEA, while Talha will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities and strategically optimising revenue across the company’s channel partners in India and Sri Lanka.){kind=link}