Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW) (Nasdaq: AAWW), a leading provider of global air cargo services, today announced that Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar) has hired Thomas Betenia as Vice President Sales and Marketing, Americas, effective January 7, 2008. Mr. Betenia, who will be based in Purchase, NY, comes to Polar from Lufthansa Cargo AG, most recently as Director of Sales and Handling for the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
At Polar, Mr. Betenia will oversee all sales and marketing activities in the Americas. This will include building on Polar’s existing business with its scheduled-service customers while leveraging the Company’s added express capabilities on behalf of current and prospective customers. As part of its commercial agreement with DHL Express, Polar will begin offering express service for DHL in October, 2008, requiring close network and geographic integration.
Michael Steen, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, AAWW, said, “Over the past several months, we have been shaping a strengthened global sales and marketing structure within Polar that will focus on supporting and delivering new value to our customers. With 27 years in the industry, Tom is the ideal person to share and articulate Polar’s value proposition with customers, and to grow our existing business and cultivate new business in the Americas. I look forward to working closely with Tom, and everyone in our entire global sales and marketing network.”
Mr. Betenia, 47, joined Lufthansa Cargo AG in 1980. During his first 15 years there, he held positions of increasing responsibility in areas as diverse as accounting, flight operations, network planning, and sales and marketing.
In 1995, Mr. Betenia was appointed their General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), overseeing the merging of two Lufthansa Cargo regions, the U.S. Southeast and Southwest. In 1998, he also assumed responsibility for Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America. He was then appointed Director of Sales, U.S. Northeast, Midwest, and Canada in 2004, and was responsible for 12 Lufthansa Cargo stations. In 2006, sales and handling were merged, when he assumed his most recent position.
Randy Clark, Chief Operating Officer, Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., said, “Our operations in the Americas get a huge lift from the addition of Tom to Polar. We have planned for scheduling and staffing to accommodate the high-quality, high-reliability service required in the express business. At the same time, we will continue to serve our freight-forwarder customers with convenient schedules on existing routes. Tom’s experience will benefit both our express and scheduled service operations.”
About Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc.
Polar is a global leader in the international air cargo market, specializing in time-definite, airport-to-airport scheduled freight service. The company provides a critical link in the international logistics chain by connecting major cargo markets in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Far East via frequent Boeing 747 freighter service. Polar will also deliver a strong express network through its partnership with DHL Express, which owns a 49% stake in Polar. Polar is 51% owned by Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW), and is based in Purchase, New York.
Contacts:
Regina Milano, 914-701-8417
or
Dan
Loh (Investors), 914-701-8210
