PACIFIC REGION. LagardèreAWPL has announced the departure of Co-CEO Przemek Lesniak after 23 years with the Lagardère Travel Retail group and seven years leading the Pacific arm of the organisation.
Co-CEO Costa Kouros is named sole CEO of the joint venture retailer, which was formed by the combination of Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific and Kouros-led Australian travel retailer AWPL in May 2022.
Before his time in the Pacific, Lesniak’s career with Lagardère Travel Retail included roles in Poland and France and multiple projects across the business in Europe, before he joined the Sydney-based team in 2016.
Lesniak said: “Throughout my time with the Group, I have had the privilege of working with amazing people in different countries, working on exciting projects and experiencing new cultures and languages. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have had, and the contribution I have been able to make.”
Lesniak navigated the Pacific business through the COVID-19 pandemic, helped extend the travel retailer’s Auckland Airport duty-free contract and struck the joint venture with AWPL to create LagardèreAWPL.
Costa Kouros said: “I want to take the opportunity to thank Przemek for being my co-CEO for the first 22 months of this company and wish him every success in his future endeavours.
“Together with our board, our shareholders and the Executive Leadership Team of LagardèreAWPL, we remain committed to our promise of delivering excellence for our people and our partners.”
Lagardère Travel Retail Group CFO & COO Pacific Luc Mansion said: “As Przemek Lesniak steps down to pursue a new professional challenge, we thank him very much for his contribution to the development of the group over the past years and acknowledge the mark his leadership has made these past years on Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific.
“With Costa Kouros extending his responsibilities as single CEO backed by our global support team, our commitment to business continuity and our customer focus remains unwavering. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for Przemek’s significant contributions and wish him all the very best in his new ventures.” ✈
