Lufthansa Group announces changes in top management
Heike Birlenbach and Tamur Goudarzi Pour of Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group announced two management changes in a December 12 press release. Heike Birlenbach will become the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) effective January 1, 2024. She succeeds Tamur Goudarzi Pour who will be responsible for Customer Experience within the Lufthansa Group in the New Year.
Goudarzi Pour will also be responsible for a newly established task force within Lufthansa Group, the aim of which is to sustainably improve operational stability, punctuality, customer service, customer communication and baggage processes in 2024.
Birlenbach has been Head of Customer Experience for the Group's airlines since 2021. Previously, she was CCO of Lufthansa Airlines and was responsible for sales for the hub airlines in a dual role. Birlenbach began her career at Lufthansa in 1990 and has held various management positions, primarily in sales and product development in London, Amsterdam, Milan, Munich and Frankfurt. She holds a Master of Management from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
"I would like to thank Heike Birlenbach for her outstanding cooperation. In challenging times, she has played a key role in shaping product development and the offering for our guests,” said Christina Foerster, Member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Group.
Goudarzi Pour will take over responsibility for the Lufthansa Group's Customer Experience division effective January 1, 2024. He has been CCO of SWISS since 2019. Previously, he was responsible for sales in the Americas. Before moving to New York, he headed up sales in the Middle East & Africa region from Dubai.
Goudarzi Pour began his career with the Lufthansa Group over two decades ago, in 2000. He holds a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Cambridge.
“I look forward to working with Tamur Goudarzi Pour in the future,” Foerster said. “With his great expertise and many years of experience in commercial areas and his profound knowledge of the needs of our customers, he will decisively advance the product, quality and premium initiatives of Lufthansa Group Airlines.”
Dieter Vranckx, CEO of SWISS, also commented on the top management changes: "I would like to thank Tamur Goudarzi Pour for his great commitment to SWISS. After the difficult Covid years, he played a major role in the rapid recovery of SWISS from the crisis and its emergence as one of Europe's most profitable airlines. I am delighted to welcome Heike Birlenbach, a proven airline expert, on board at SWISS. With her broad expertise, particularly in the commercial areas, she is a very good fit for our team, both personally and professionally."
