Signature Aviation has appointed Derek DeCross as senior vice president of global customer engagement. The company is centralising its customer functions across the organisation to create a dedicated team to focus on sales and customer engagement strategies. The move is part of Signature's continued efforts to better understand, anticipate and respond to the real estate and aviation needs of its customers.

“Creating a new customer engagement team, led by Derek, is yet another example that Signature is fully committed to strengthening our focus on customers. This organisation will be dedicated to understanding our customers and delivering solutions to meet their unique needs,” says CEO Tony Lefebvre. “Derek's background in aviation and hospitality makes him well suited for this role that will help shape the future of Signature's customer relationships. We are thrilled to have him on board.”

DeCross joins Signature from IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he served as SVP, global sales with responsibility for implementing sales efforts for IHG's portfolio of 17 brands, including over 6,000 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries. During his tenure, he represented IHG across the industry as a member of the US Travel & Tourism Advisory Board, the Business Travel News Advisory Board and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Board.

Prior to IHG, DeCross spent 20 years with American Airlines where he ultimately served as the vice president of global sales. In this role, he led American's sales team and developed all sales and distribution policies worldwide, while spearheading American's relationships with corporate customers and travel agencies.

DeCross also served as president - AAdvantage and was responsible for overseeing all aspects of its loyalty activities worldwide. In addition, he served as managing director of digital marketing, managing director of airline profitability and financial analysis, and managing director of domestic pricing.

DeCross holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.