Johnny Thorsen, formerly VP of Business Development for Content Distribution at Spotnana, has joined New Zealand-based Serko as Vice President of Strategic Business Development.
Serko provides online travel booking and expense management solutions for the business travel market.
Zeno, Serko’s next generation travel management application, powers Booking.com for Business and uses intelligent technology, predictive workflows and a global travel marketplace.
An announcement said Thorsen’s new role will see him “lead Serko’s strategic growth initiatives and enhance the company’s positioning as a market leader in business travel”.
He will be responsible for developing Serko’s network of TMC partners through the “commercialisation of Serko’s growing platform ecosystem”.
Additionally, he will focus on enhancing Serko’s product offerings “through innovation, building customer acquisition strategies and fostering partnerships to ensure long-term growth and leadership in the North American market”.
Serko CEO Darrin Grafton said: “Having known Johnny for years, I’ve always admired his ability to anticipate trends in the travel industry. He’s not just an influential visionary; he’s someone who truly understands how to bring transformative ideas to life.
“His passion for innovation and building meaningful connections make him an ideal addition to Serko. I’m genuinely excited to see the impact he will have as we shape the future of corporate travel together.”
Before joining Spotnana in June 2021, Thorsen spent 30 years in corporate travel, including senior leadership roles at Concur and American Express.
He has also served as a strategic advisor or board member for more than 10 travel-sector companies, including Troop, Thrust Carbon, Tryp and Envest Global.
“With Serko’s ambitious growth plans and commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions, I see significant opportunities to strengthen the brand, forge impactful partnerships and solidify its leadership in North America and beyond,” said Thorsen.
Posting on LinkedIn he added: “I have voiced a few ideas about how a truly connected travel tech stack should work, and I look forward to converting this vision into reality here at Serko, while working closely with the global startup community to enable a wide rage of integrated services with a few clicks on the keyboard – and yes, this will include sustainable travel capabilities and relevant content from wherever it is available with or without the PNR based on what customers want.”
The appointment follows Serko’s recent acquisition of GetThere and its strategic partnership with travel industry leader, Sabre.
Serko also plans to invest US$100 million over the next three years to enhance its platform technology and deliver the next generation of business travel solutions.
As well as its head office in New Zealand, Serko has offices across Australia, China and the US.
