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Christopher Besendorfer
Managing Director: Head of Citi Travel and Rewards
Christopher Besendorfer is an accomplished global business leader who recently joined Citi as the Managing Director: Head of Citi Travel and Rewards.2 With over 20 years of experience, he has established himself as an innovative executive with a proven track record of driving growth and transforming customer experiences in consumer products and services across loyalty, travel, and financial services verticals.1
Professional Background
Besendorfer's career highlights include:
- Building new businesses, including launching and scaling an e-commerce travel site that ranks among the Top 10 U.S. travel sites for sales1
- Redefining customer interactions and redemptions for American Express's Membership Rewards program1
- Holding various leadership roles at American Express, including Vice President/General Manager and Global Head of Travel and Lifestyle Service
Areas of Expertise
His areas of expertise encompass:
- Product management
- Business development
- Profitability optimization
- Employee development
- Global digital marketing
- Contract negotiation
- Crisis management
Education
Besendorfer holds:
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from King's College
- Master of Business Administration from Hofstra University1
Personal Attributes
He is described as an entrepreneurial-minded executive with a global perspective, known for his ability to deliver results in fast-paced, rapidly changing growth businesses.1 Besendorfer is also recognized as an effective communicator skilled in negotiation and partnership building.
In his current role at Citi, Christopher Besendorfer is responsible for defining and delivering the strategic roadmap for the company's travel and rewards programs.2
Highlights
I am thrilled to share news of my next chapter – I recently joined Citi as Managing Director: Head of Travel and Rewards. In this role, I will be responsible for defining and delivering the strategic roadmap for Citi Travel and ThankYou rewards program that will drive enhanced customer loyalty, growth and profitability. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with the team and getting to know our customers and partners. I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and invaluable experiences that have shaped my journey thus far, and want to express my sincerest thanks to colleagues who have contributed along the way.
