PARIS, MINNEAPOLIS (October 18, 2025) - The Board of Directors of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) ended its quarterly board meeting with the following announcements:

        The board appointed CWT co-founder Herv Gourio as the President & CEO worldwide effective immediately, replacing Jon Madonna, who is leaving the company. Gourio will report directly to the board.

In addition to the CEO role, Herv Gourio will retain his duties as President, CWT Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).  CWTs regional headquarters will continue to include Minneapolis, Paris and Sydney.

Gourio had been head of Accors Wagonlit Travel at the time it merged with Carlsons business travel company in 1994 to form CWT, and is considered one of the architects of the modern global corporate travel industry. During his successful career within the company since 1976, his roles have included President French operations (1976 - 1983) and President international network (1983 - 1994) for Wagonlit Travel. He has been co-President Carlson Wagonlit Travel worldwide (1994 - 1997) and is President Europe, Middle East & Africa since 1997.

A French citizen, Gourio is a  graduate of Ecole Polytechnique, one of the most honored institutions in Europe.

        The board established a Strategy Committee consisting of Gourio, Carlsons COO of Corporate Services James Ryan, (who also heads Carlsons relationship marketing company Carlson Marketing Group); and Accors Group Internet Managing Director Thierry Gaches.   This team will identify ways of broadening and deepening corporate services relationships with CWT customers, going beyond traditional travel offerings and incorporating the owner companies non-travel expertise.

        The board saluted Madonna for his service, and accepted his decision to leave and focus on personal and entrepreneurial interests. The Board has requested Madonna to serve as a consultant to the company.

NOTE TO EDITORS :  The Carlson Wagonlit Travel board of directors is comprised of representatives from CWT co-owners Carlson Companies of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Accor Group of Paris, France.  These announcements pertain only to the Carlson Wagonlit Travel global business travel company co-owned by Carlson Companies and Accor.  These announcements in no way affect Carlsons separate and wholly-owned leisure and franchised travel agency network, which operates under the Carlson Wagonlit Travel name in North America, and which reports to Carlson Leisure Group President and CEO Michael Batt.

They do not affect either the CWT Leisure activity in Europe, which is currently managed by Accor.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Carlson Wagonlit Travel is a world leader in business travel management.  Today, the Carlson Wagonlit group, resulting from the merger of the Carlson and Wagonlit business travel activities, has locations in more than 140 countries.  It generates over $12 billion in annual sales.  Carlson Wagonlit Travel is co-owned by Paris-based Accor group and Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc.  For additional information, contact www.carlsonwagonlit.com 

 Accor

Accor with 130,000 associates in 140 countries, is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and services with two major international activities:

-   hotels: 3,500 hotels (385,000 rooms) in 90 countries, and travel agencies, restaurants and casinos;

-   services: each day, over 11 million people in 30 countries use a broad range of services (vouchers and cards, online services) developed, issued and managed by Accor on behalf of corporate clients and public authorities.

 CCI

Carlson Companies is a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: Carlson Marketing Group, the largest relationship marketing services company in the United States; Carlson Wagonlit Travel; Thomas Cook travel and financial services; Regent International Hotels; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; Park Hospitality; T.G.I. Fridays restaurants; and 24k Gold Points, a new online/offline venture. Ranked among the largest privately held corporations in the United States, Carlson Companies is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. In 1999, Carlson-related brands and services generated $31.4 billion in systemwide, gross sales worldwide and currently employ more than 188,000 people in more than 140 countries.

http://www.carlson.com

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