British Airways has promoted Richard Tams, currently head of UK sales and marketing, to executive vice president for China and the Philippines.
The new role will include representing BA and parent company, International Airlines Group, in China.
Tams will be based in Beijing and will take up his new position when BA has appointed his successor. The airline is currently advertising for his replacement.
The airline said Tams would work closely with colleagues in the region, as well as with the local authorities and key influencers in the Chinese market.
Drew Crawley, BA’s chief commercial officer, said: “This appointment reflects the importance of this hugely strategic market for British Airways and marks the start of further investment in the region.
“Richard has done a fantastic job generating business and driving leisure sales with his team in the airline’s biggest market, here in the UK and Europe. I have every confidence he will bring that same energy and enthusiasm to develop our presence in China and the Philippines.”
Since he began his career with BA as a graduate trainee 23 years ago, Tams has worked in a variety of operational and commercial roles across both the passenger and cargo divisions of the business and in a number of markets across the world.
In January 2009, he was appointed head of UK and Ireland sales and marketing, and became responsible for BA and Iberia’s relationships with its UK and global corporate customers, travel management companies and partner leisure agents and tour operators.