STAR ALLIANCE NAMES NEW CEO, FOUR VPS

STAR ALLIANCE NAMES NEW CEO, FOUR VPS    The Star Alliance has named William L. Meaney chief executive officer of its Alliance Management Team (AMT), succeeding Friedel Rodig who retires after leading the airline alliance since its founding in May 1997.
   Meaney, who will be based in Frankfurt, Germany, has served as executive vice president alliances, network management and global sales for South African Airways for nearly three year. Prior to that he was a strategic consultant for numerous industries and was CEO of a South African pharmaceutical company.
   The alliance has also appointed four executives to strategic development areas of its AMT, which reports to the alliance's highest governing body: the chief executive board, comprising the CEOs of Star Alliance member airlines and the Alliance Member Board, chaired by Ross MacCormack, Air Canada's vice president, alliances and international affairs.
   Louise McKenven has been appointed vice president, marketing. She has chaired communications activities at the Star Alliance since its founding in 1997. Previously, she headed marketing, communications and brand management at Air Canada.
   Richard S. Merkatz has been named vice president and head of sales. He joined United Airlines in 1974 and has held a number of sales and marketing management positions, including director of international marketing/sales planning at United's Chicago headquarters since 1995.
   Horst E. Findeisen has been named vice president, strategic development, Global Network. He succeeds MacCormack in this responsibility. Findeisen was general manager, network management – alliances at Lufthansa.
   Brock Frisen has been named vice president of strategy. He served as vice president, alliances at Canadian Airlines, which has since been acquired by Air Canada. He was responsible for Canadian Airlines' alliance with other airlines since 1986.
   Star Alliance members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Ansett Australia, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda Air, Lufthansa, Mexicana, SAS, Thai, Singapore Airlines, Tyrolean Airways and Varig.