Cathay has appointed Vinod Viswanathan as its new Regional Head of Corporate for South Asia, Middle East and Africa and Talha Shaikh to as the Regional Head of Trade for India and Sri Lanka.

Hong Kong-based travel company Cathay, that operates Cathay Pacific, has announced the appointment of Vinod Viswanathan as Regional Head of Corporate for South Asia, Middle East and Africa (SAMEA) and Talha Shaikh as Regional Head of Trade for India and Sri Lanka.

According to a press statement by Cathay, Viswanathan will drive Cathay’s business growth and profitability within SAMEA, while Shaikh will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities and strategically optimizing revenue across the company’s channel partners in India and Sri Lanka in their new roles.

The statement adds that with over 15 years of experience in aviation, corporate travel and global distribution, Viswanathan 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.

Shaikh brings to the table over 16 years of diverse experience in aviation sales, marketing, and operations spanning various facets of the dynamic aviation industry. The statement adds that 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.

With the backing of this new team, Cathay says it 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.