#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE
Thursday
February 1,
2024
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#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE |
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| Vol. 23 No. 4 | Thursday
February 1,
2024 |
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Mark Drusch—A Man, A Mission |
Doha, Qatar - “Qatar Airways Cargo confirms that Mark Drusch has been appointed as Chief Officer Cargo effective immediately.” This in Qatar’s Press Release: “with over 25 years in senior airline management roles, Mark is a well-known figure in the aviation world. His most recent role was SVP Revenue Management, Alliances and Strategy at Qatar Airways where he led the development and implementation of the company’s revenue strategy as well as managing strategic alliances with key partner airlines. Prior to joining Qatar Airways, Mark spent 20 years at Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and Lufthansa LSG Sky Chefs as Senior Vice President where he led the transformation in commercial airline strategy execution, revenue management, network planning and alliances. In addition, Mark was CEO and co-founder of e-Rewards and e-Miles, leaders in online panel research and online advertising.” In other words, we are talking of a man with a distinguished background, were it necessary to remind the public. As a resource, at times you can use the internet in an unusual manner. Doing so offers a fruitful exercise in this case. If you google the meaning of our man’s surname, this is the answer you get from Seven Reflections, which we quote literally: “You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it. You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.” Leaving internet fortune-tellers alone, we prefer in fact a business approach to Mark Drusch’s new role and job. His choice as new cargo chief at Qatar Cargo would seem curious in a way, especially as he has served in the passenger division as Senior Vice President Revenue Management, Strategic Alliances, Loyalty and Strategy at Qatar Airways for the past four years since December 2019, but looking a bit closer, Mr. Drusch brings more than 25 years in senior airline management experience. As we mentioned, he was CEO and co-founder of e-commerce ventures, and digital customer loyalty insights, which adds another layer of special credentials. As key to this cargo posting, we think, Mark served as a senior vice president at Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines, where he led transformations in commercial airline strategy and execution, revenue management, route planning, scheduling, alliances, loyalty, distribution, regional carriers, and catering. Difficult is to imagine a more holistic approach to airline strategy than this and how Mark will play out for cargo at the airline in Doha – where the top spot turnstile has turned every so many years from John Batten to Uli Ogiermann to Guillaume Halleaux – is yet to be realized, but in this case his experience at Delta and Continental delivers a clue to some success story in the making . . .
 At
Delta, where Drusch served in full dignity, we recall Tony Charaf with similar
credentials as Mark, who moved over to cargo and managed a long and distinguished
career as the top cargo executive for DL during 2000-2004. Same thing at
Continental, where Jack Boisen served over 40 years in various airline posts,
but then as top cargo executive, delivering fresh perspective and great
product innovation in a long career that lasted at CO from 1994 until 2008.A passenger airline executive, with that special brand of flexible whole market experience for the past quarter century, Drusch is known for identifying and implementing new market and revenue opportunities, restructuring and transforming operations and most importantly achieving higher profitability. The posting of a former top Delta Airlines executive to steer the top Qatar Cargo enterprise is a development, and Mark Drusch comes most importantly at a time of major change at Qatar Airways. I recall sitting at a meeting in Doha with air cargo media many years ago, when there was some kind of dust up between the two transportation companies, at a time when Akbar Al Baker, the wonderfully outspoken CEO of Qatar Airways said of Delta Airlines: “They fly **** aircraft.” Al Baker fumed at Delta, but that was then and now is now, period. Now in 2024 the future of Qatar Cargo hangs in some part on a man that took many lessons from Delta Airlines, a good opportunity to take note that many pages have been turned and Qatar has managed to climb to a status of excellence, not only in trade and aviation, but in many other aspects of our modern life. In conclusion, as FT we wish Mark Drusch all possible success in this new endeavor. Perhaps this is the right time to bring the fortune teller’s word to reality: raise Mark’s intuitive abilities to resolve conflict or situations and become very creative even under pressure, with original ideas to make the best out of it. A man, a mission, one could say. GDA
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If
You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers Access complete issue by clicking on issue icon or Access specific articles by clicking on article title |
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 Vol. 23 No.1 A Late Alitalia Tale |
 Vol. 23 No. 2 Can Cargo Tech Conversion Help Boeing? Wonderful Boot? The Man Who Changed Color On The Bridge |
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Publisher-Geoffrey Arend
• Managing Editor-Flossie Arend • Editor Emeritus-Richard
Malkin Film Editor-Ralph Arend • Special Commentaries Editor-Bob Rogers • Special Assignments-Sabiha Arend, Emily Arend |
Send comments and news to geoffrey@aircargonews.com
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In
a related development Michael Ganz who served 20 years at Swiss International
Airlines in various roles, including four years in air cargo has joined
Qatar Airways Cargo as Manager Regional Key Accounts Americas.
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