TIACA appoints Celine Hourcade as project manager

Aug 30, 2019: The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has appointed Celine Hourcade as the new project manager to support its transformation programme.

The first two priorities for Hourcade will be the development of TIACA’s Sustainability Program, including the first Sustainability Award, and the delivery of the Cargo Service Quality (CSQ) objectives for the tool, which went live in February 2019.

The association informed that her new role is effective from September.

She will head up further projects as the association continues to roll out new transformation initiatives as part of an ongoing drive to grow the organisation and deliver a reinvigorated value proposition for members.

Steven Polmans, TIACA chairman, and director, Cargo and Logistics, the Brussels Airport Company said: “Celine is very well respected in our industry and did a great job when working for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), no doubt she will continue to do so when working for TIACA and our members.”

Hourcade has 18 years of experience in international business, mainly in the aviation industry, working for WaveStone, Amadeus, and then for IATA for 13 years, joining its Cargo Department in 2008.

Hourcade has developed a wide range of projects at IATA including the Future Air Cargo Executive (FACE) program to attract, develop, and retain young talent in air cargo, the Air Cargo Makes It Happen campaign, the Air Cargo Carbon Footprint measurement standard, the Global Shippers Surveys, the Air Cargo Innovation Awards, and the StB Cargo programme.

Hourcade is also enthusiastic about unmanned aviation and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Swiss drone start-up Rigi Technologies, and the Lake Victoria Challenge, and is part of the World Economic Forum’s Drone Innovators Network.

She has also been recently appointed by Dr John D.Kasarda as Senior Fellow of Aerotropolis Institute China (AIC) and Expert Advisor to the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (ZAEC).

“From the e-ticketing project on the passenger side, to the wonderful world of cargo, I am proud of the transformation initiatives I have been privileged to contribute to, launch, and drive,” said Hourcade.

“I am thrilled to join the TIACA team and work with Steven [Polmans, TIACA Chairman], Sanjeev [Gadhia, TIACA Vice Chairman], and Vladimir [Zubkov, TIACA Secretary General] to put sustainability and diversity at the top of its agenda.

“I believe it will address what the industry wants and needs and will further strengthen TIACA’s relevance.”