INTERNATIONAL. Aviation services company LSG Group today announced the creation of a standalone management team dedicated to Retail inMotion’s (RiM) global operations, with well-known industry figure John Moriarty named as CEO.
LSG said it is devolving more management responsibilities to its regional and functional entities under a new structure.
As reported, LSG Group was acquired by private equity company Aurelius Group from the Lufthansa Group in November last year.
The new RiM team will focus more extensively on its global activities, driving a reinvigoration of the business that will, among other measures, involve substantial investment in IT upgrades, the company noted.
The establishment of the standalone team will align Retail inMotion more closely with its key markets, allowing it to enhance competitiveness against digitally nimble rivals, develop new partnerships and enhance its growth prospects, LSG added.
John Moriarty joins from Beyond, a travel and hospitality tech development and advisory service, where he is the Founder and CEO. He previously served as Chief Retail Officer of gategroup, where he was responsible for the global retail division, and held various leadership positions with Runway Duty Free and ARI peviously.
Moriarty brings to the team his extensive experience in the global travel and onboard retail business. He has a track record in developing and scaling up new business models in tech-driven environments, creating unique retail experiences and driving operational excellence, said LSG.
Moriarty said: “I am excited to join Retail inMotion and, together with a great team, to shape the company’s future as the leading onboard retailer.”
The company is set to introduce a CTO and COO later in the year.
Retail inMotion CFO Elizabeth Repolho da Silva, CCO Laura Roesges, CRO Marius Banholzer and CCSO Trish Costelloe will continue to be part of the leadership team. They will refocus the organisation on developing a customer-centric culture, allowing the company to more effectively execute its strategy, the company said.
Along with its global teams, the Retail inMotion team in Dublin will continue to be supported by the Board of Global Airline Catering & Retail Invest (the holding company of the LSG Group) and Aurelius Portfolio Advisory Managing Directors René Herzog and Janno Gröne.
LSG Group CEO Erdmann Rauer said: “We want to give Retail inMotion the power to control its own destiny. The management team, led by John Moriarty, will enable the business to take decisions faster and operate more efficiently, reinvigorating its sense of purpose and allowing it to unlock new value-creation opportunities.
“By ensuring that Retail inMotion better serves the needs of its customers, suppliers and partners, I am confident that today marks the start of a bright future for the business.”
The devolution of regional responsibilities marks the end of Karin Sonnenmoser’s interim role as Global CFO at LSG Group.
Erdmann Rauer will no longer serve as the Group CEO but will continue to be part of the business as Senior Strategic Advisor, supporting its transition to a new organisational structure.
Aurelius Founding Partner Gert Purkert said: “We extend a warm welcome to all new senior arrivals and wish them much success in their new roles. At the same time, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who is departing Retail inMotion before it embarks on its new endeavour. Each one of them in their own right have served this company very well and will be missed.
“Of course, our special thanks goes to Erdmann Rauer, the long-serving Global CEO, without whom the LSG Group would not be what it is today. We wish all of them only the best for their personal and professional futures, and we are glad Erdmann will continue to support us as Senior Strategic Advisor.”
As part of the wider strategic realignment, the LSG Sky Chefs Americas management team will be given full ownership and decision-making authority for the performance of the LSG Sky Chefs brand in the US and Latin America.
The team will be led by new CEO Greg Anderson who joins the company from Securitas AB North America Division, where he served as President and Chief Executive Of- ficer. He will be supported by new CFO Nathan Oujezdsky who joins the company from Flix North America, where he also served as CFO, and the new COO Jeff Riedel who has been President of United Ground Express since 2022. CCO Tone Cresswell remains part of the team.
John Rutjes and Dave Dennis, previously CEO and COO, respectively, of LSG Sky Chefs’ Americas business, have left the company by mutual agreement. ✈
