CTM appoints new CFO amid leadership change-up

CTM appoints new CFO amid leadership change-up
Edited by Travel Weekly


Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has announced that its current global chief financial officer, Cale Bennett, will be leaving the company with James Patterson, CTM’s current group general manager of finance, to step up as acting global CFO.

Bennett will take up the CFO position at TechnologyOne following the mutually agreed upon separation date of 28 July to ensure a smooth transition for both companies.

Patterson has worked at CTM for more than 3.5 years and brings significant experience in treasury and financial control from ASX-listed and multi-national organisations including Aurizon and BNP Paribas.

CTM managing director, Jamie Pherous, said that Patterson’s experience under Bennett puts him in a good position to step into the new role.

James has been intimately involved in key strategic decision making and has contributed extensively on a global scale as part of our succession planning.”

Alongside the CFO change up, CTM has revealed an array of other senior management changes as part of its 2026 strategic plan.

“As part of this review, we  have realigned our executive team and their accountabilities to best deliver CTM’s longer term strategic direction and key priorities,” the company said in an ASX release.

Laura Ruffles will continue as an executive director and has been appointed into the new role of CEO ANZ / EU / ASIA, with responsibility for the performance and organic growth of the ANZ, EU and Asia regions together with leading the enhancement of customer-facing technology and automation.

These regions in totality now exceed the entire size of CTM in FY19. Ruffles will lead the regional CEOs in ANZ, EU and Asia and the global chief technology officer. 

Kevin O’Malley will continue his leadership as CEO North America. The company said that the separate focus point is due to the size of the US growth opportunity, which is CTM’s largest market in line with CTM’s 2026 strategic plan.

Alongside this, Eleanor Noonan has been appointed as Global COO, with responsibility for people and performance together with the data, security and ICT. Noonan leads a team of global experts in each of these disciplines. Noonan will be considered a key management person (KMP) of CTM.

Noonan was employed as global chief of staff in August 2022 to help rebuild CTM’s workforce following the COVID recovery. She has a long track record for successfully driving operational excellence within the  financial services industry and Government.

Patterson, Ruffles, Noonan and O’Malley will all report to Pherous.

CTM chairman, Ewen Crouch AM said: “I am confident the changes will strengthen CTM’s  executive team as it focuses on delivery of our strategic roadmap through FY24 and  beyond.”

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