David Scowsill: Now CEO of EON Reality after leaving WTTC

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Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

EON Reality Inc appointed  David Scowsill as the CEO effective from 1 August 2017 succeeding Mats Johansson, who will continue to serve on the Board and as President of EON Reality. Scowsill was also appointed to the Board of Directors.

“The world is entering a new phase of technological disruption, driven by Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality,” said David Scowsill. “This will have a dramatic impact on all of our lives, with many jobs being automated and others being created. EON Reality is at the epicenter of this tsunami, accelerating knowledge transfer to students and professionals alike. I am delighted to be joining the EON family at this critical stage, when the company is scaling rapidly, developing the technology platform and rolling out Interactive Digital Centers around the world.”

“David’s international business experience, vast network with global industry and government leaders, and his numerous executive positions make him a perfect choice for CEO and to lead EON Reality in our next accelerated growth phase,” said Dan Lejerskar, Founder of EON Reality. “His experience in rapidly growing businesses combined with his experience working with industry and government leaders will strengthen EON Reality’s rapid international growth.”

Scowsill most recently served as President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a private sector research and advocacy organization that represents the travel industry globally. Scowsill doubled membership over the last five years, through an outreach to globally operating companies in Asia and bringing in a mix of online and technology businesses. Regularly providing current affairs and financial commentary on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, CCTV and CNBC, he has interviewed many high-profile individuals and heads of state including Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton and former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron. He drove a program of visits with 85 heads of state to promote a sector which supports 294 million jobs and generates 10% world GDP.

Prior to joining the WTTC as President and CEO in November 2010, Mr. Scowsill was an independent Chairman and Director who built an extensive network in private equity and venture capital. He worked for six years with private equity houses, completing multiple deals in the technology and travel sectors.

David served as CEO of Opodo, the pan-European online travel agency owned by nine of Europe’s leading airlines. Scowsill built the company from startup to a €500 million transaction turnover in two years, before the business was sold in 2004 to Amadeus, a technology company that serves the global travel industry.

Scowsill joined the board of Hilton International in 1997 as Senior VP Sales, Marketing, and IT, driving a $100 mil technology development program and leading the marketing brand re-unification between the two Hilton shareholder companies.

David worked at British Airways Plc from 1993 to 1997 as Director for Europe/Middle East, and as Regional General Manager Asia/Pacific. Leading the operations throughout SE Asia, Japan, China and Australasia, he negotiated the Joint Service Agreement and global alliance with Qantas, which became the model for future collaborative airline agreements.

Scowsill joined American Airlines, Inc., in 1991 as Managing Director Sales, Europe Middle East and Africa.  David’s earlier career was with British Airways, with a variety of operational and sales roles in US, Europe, Latin America, Gulf States, Africa, and Asia.

He is a graduate from the University of Southampton, UK, where he received a BA Honors Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

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