Former CEO of travel management company CWT Michelle Frymire
joined short-term accommodation provider Sonder Holdings' board of
directors, according to Sonder.
Frymire in May stepped down as CWT CEO after
leading the TMC since April 2021.
During her tenure, Frymire led CWT through a restructuring process that
included a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which enabled the TMC to
slash its debt in half and access $350 million in new capital.
Frymire joined CWT as
CFO in January 2019, and previously served in senior financial roles for
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines, among
others.
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“Michelle is one of
the foremost travel and tourism sector experts in the United States. Her deep
experience in driving global strategy as well as overseeing product and
technology platform investments will bring strong contributions to our future
development as a global hospitality leader,” said Sonder co-founder and CEO
Francis Davidson in a statement.
Frymire’s TMC
background brings specific expertise in corporate travel - which the company in recent months identified as a “huge opportunity” - to Sonder’s board. Sonder
went through its own restructuring process in June, but has made several
recent moves to indicate an increased focus on corporate travel for its
long-term plans, including setting up a business travel focused sales
organization and committing more deeply to its global distribution system
strategy.
Frymire's appointment
follows Verizon Consumer Group EVP and CEO Manon Brouillette's resignation
from Sonder’s board.
* This
article first appeared in Business Travel News.