As reported last week at The Transit Cafe, travel facilitator Abacus International has appointed Robert Bailey as its President and CEO of the company, with effect from 14 April 2008.

With more than fifteen years experience in senior strategy, business development and marketing roles in travel distribution, Bailey's experience includes six years with telecommunications and IT services company SITA. According to an Abacus release, Bailey also spent 11 years with Galileo International, and was most recently senior VP and Managing Director at ITSMA.

Bailey said he was looking forward to the challenge of leading Abacus International on its next phase of development, noting, “I am excited to be joining Abacus at such an important stage in its development”.

He looked forward to building upon Abacus’ partnership with Asian travel agents established under Don Birch.“Abacus has made excellent progress by not just offering strong travel content, but also encouraging and empowering travel agents to tackle the challenges posed by new distribution technologies and the changing airline landscape, which many are doing with great success.”

Current President and CEO, Don Birch, announced last year he would step down in 2008 after six years with the company. Below, he shares his departing thoughts with Transit's Yeoh Siew Hoon.

Q: How do you feel as you get ready to leave after six years of leading Abacus?
A: Sadness of course. Together with the Abacus team we have achieved a lot, some would say the impossible. I am grateful for the incredibly loyal support and energy of everybody at Abacus, a true embodiment of modern day Singapore. “My success has been enabled by the competence of others”

Q: When you joined Abacus, what did you set out to do? And do you feel you've done it?
A: Whatever my dreams, they were soon brought low by 9/11 and the subsequent work needed to recover. That was a great learning experience and was the real launching pad for the Abacus that you know today.

Q: What remains unfinished?
A: Is work ever finished? Life goes on and the Abacus challenge is to maintain its relevance for Asian travel suppliers and travel agents. We know Asia is different and in the GDS context we know that Abacus understand this best. By being an industry leader and a true partner, Abacus will continue to be successful.

Q: What challenges will your successor face? What advice would you give him/her?
A: The biggest challenge is how to enable and be a leader of the change in the travel distribution industry and in particular, how to help travel agents create value for suppliers and travelers. My advice is to set a course and then invest, invest and invest and do not deviate until the phase shift occurs.

Q: What changes do you see taking place in the travel distribution landscape? And how will GDSs evolve to meet those changes?
A: GDSs have huge equity in travel distribution, especially airlines. However none of them have been successful in cracking the broader travel distribution nut. This is the 'holy grail' and will bring significant rewards to the GDS that finds the secret ingredient.

Q: What memories will you take with you?
A: Wonderful, efficient, high quality-of-life Singapore. Hard working, competent, honest people and employees. Lots of learning, but some fun along the way (we should sell tickets to the Abacus annual staff parties, they are so funny!). And a much improved tennis game.

Q. What lies ahead for you? Personally and professionally?
A: My leaving Abacus is a change of pace rather than going into retirement. I will be moving to what is referred to as a portfolio lifestyle where I aim to use my skills, contacts and experience to perform in different and less operational roles. Definitely not consulting - but advising, some pro-bono work, non-executive board positions and a little bit of investment banking (positively my last career change!).

Home will be Geneva where Rosemary and I will have the pleasure of living.