Biography

Director since: 2023

Principal Occupation:
Chief Executive Officer and President, Sabre Corporation

Age: 54

Relevant Expertise 

• Extensive operating experience and deep familiarity with travel technology ecosystem. As President and CEO of Sabre, Mr. Ekert oversees all aspects of Sabre’s business and technology operations. During his five years as Chief Commercial Officer at Travelport, he transformed the product offerings and value propositions across all key channels, which delivered consistent growth and paved the way for its successful IPO in 2014. He started his career in the travel industry at Continental Airlines before holding various executive positions with Orbitz and Gulliver’s Travel Associates, both subsidiaries of Cendant Corporation before its break-up.
• Proven track record in leading transformational and modernization initiatives. First as President and then CEO at Sabre, Mr. Ekert has led new growth and transformation strategies, including Sabre’s technology transformation objectives and initiating a reorganization of the Travel Solutions business. Prior to joining Sabre, he served as CEO of CWT, a business travel and conferences management company, where he engineered a digital transformation while delivering significant growth, highlighted by $7 billion of new business gains over the course of his tenure
• Extensive boardroom and governmental experience in the travel industry. Ekert has broad experience on the boards of multiple travel companies, including at international companies. He serves on the board of PASSUR Aerospace, a provider of decision support technology for the aviation industry, where he has overseen the company following its transition to a SAAS company and platform redesign. He also serves on the board of ZYTLYN Technologies AG, a software platform that process global travel data. Previously, he served on the Travel & Tourism Advisory Board, where he collaborated with leaders in both the public and private sectors to advise the Secretary of Commerce on the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

Business Experience Highlights

• CEO and President, Sabre Corp. (2023 – Present)
  • President (2022 – 2023)
• CEO, CWT (2016 – 2021)
  • Director (2019 – 2021)
• Various executive positions, Travelport Worldwide Ltd
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer (2010 – 2015)
  • COO, Gulliver’s Travel Associates, a division of Travelport (2006 – 2010)
• Various executive positions, Cendant (at then-Cendant subsidiaries Travelport and Orbitz Worldwide) (2002 – 2006)
• Managing Director, Continental Airlines (1996 – 2002)

 Other Experience

• Director, ZYTLYN Technologies AG (2021 – Present)
• Director, PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. (2009 – Present)
• Director, eNett (2013 – 2015)
• Director, World Travel & Tourism Council (2016 – 2021)
• Chairman, U.S. Department of Commerce Travel & Tourism Advisory Board (2016 – 2021)