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International corporate travel services company, Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), has today announced a senior level European appointment: Dr Mathias Warns joins the company as Managing Director for Germany, effective 1 August 2008.

Reporting to Kevin Ruffles, Regional President Europe and Asia Pacific, Warns will be based in Köln and will have overall responsibility for the management of HRG Germany. This appointment reflects the importance that HRG places on the German market – nationally, regionally and globally.

Dr Warns brings extensive experience in the business to business services market to HRG Germany, which the company wants to develop as a ‘standalone’ region.  A German national with impressive leadership and multi-lingual skills, Dr Warns has previously held positions at GE Capital, Unisys and a variety of other global services companies. 

Kevin Ruffles, President of Europe and Asia Pacific, said: “As one of the three largest markets in Europe, Germany requires a dedicated focus with its own Managing Director.  In Mathias, we have an excellent leader who has a sound understanding of the German region and its role within the international arena.  We very much look forward to welcoming him to HRG and helping him develop this important market.”

Hans Holmen, Managing Director of Europe North, who, for the past year has been responsible for Germany, will return his focus to the Nordic countries and Eastern Europe and will additionally now look after Belgium. 

Ruffles adds: “In what has been a particularly challenging year, I would like to thank Hans for his unstinting commitment and dedication to successfully developing the region as a whole.  After looking after Germany since last summer, he will now be able to concentrate once again on Northern and Eastern Europe which include HRG’s recent acquisitions in Poland, Czech, Slovakia and Belgium.”

The appointment of Warns completes HRG’s European management restructure.  There are now five Managing Directors (MDs), each with a specific area of responsibility: In addition to Hans Holmen, Managing Director Europe North, and Mathias Warns, Managing Director Germany, the other European MDs are: Beat Bürer, Europe Central; Peter Kite, UK; and Ian Windsor, Multinational Services.

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For further information, please contact:

Hogg Robinson Group
Christiane Wronski
Tel: +49 (0) 69/66 80 21 - 2300

Dionne Parker
Tel: + 44 (0) 1256 312 624

Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster
Leah Phelps / Kristina Crowe
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 467 9200

Notes to Editors:

Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate travel services company. Founded in 1845 by a wine merchant and an insurance broker, HRG has over 60 years’ specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate service interests include owned or controlled corporate travel operations in 25 of the key driver and growth markets throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Supported by contracted partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to over 100 countries.

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate travel services including Corporate Travel Management, Consulting, Events & Meetings Management and Sports as well as Expense Management through its Spendvision operation.