490 Consulting has appointed travel, technology and payments executive Kurt Knackstedt as Sydney-based managing director.
Knackstedt brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across travel, B2B payments, fintech, technology, procurement and commercial strategy.
Based in Sydney, he will further expand the advisory firm’s presence and capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region, working with 490 global clients across travel and payment industries.
Knackstedt served as chief executive officer of HRS Pay and previously co-founded and served as CEO of Troovo, a B2B payment automation company.
His earlier leadership experience includes Rio Tinto, American Express and Travelport. Knackstedt also is a strategic advisor for several start-ups within the payments, loyalty and e-commerce sectors.
“490 has always been about helping clients turn change into opportunity,” 490 Consulting founder and managing partner Greeley Koch said.
“Our clients are navigating new technologies, AI, changing distribution models, evolving customer expectations and new opportunities for growth. Kurt significantly expands the expertise we can bring to those challenges, particularly across payments, technology, commercialisation and business transformation.
“His addition is also part of a bigger vision to build 490 around complementary senior expertise that we can bring together based on each client’s needs,” Koch said.
Koch and Knackstedt previously worked together through the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), where Koch served as executive director and Knackstedt served eight years on the global board, including four years as global president.
