Aimia, the company behind the Nectar loyalty scheme, has overhauled its UK management team after handing EMEA chief executive David Johnston the role of global group chief operating officer.
The former client marketer started his career at Bass before spending 13 years at Pepsico. Johnston joined Aimia three years ago and will now oversee all the firm’s global offices, with over 4,000 employees in 20 countries.
Aimia group chief executive Rupert Duchesne said: “David’s proven track record of delivering growth will sharpen the focus that Aimia needs to evolve into a truly global organisation.”
The move sees Dutchman Jan-Pieter Lips (pictured) move up from managing director of Nectar UK and Rewards Management to become president for the EMEA region.
Lips, who has worked in the UK since 2003, started his career with Loyalty Management Group in the Netherlands in 1997. He becomes a member of the global executive committee with immediate effect, reporting to Johnston.
It is understood that he will be succeeded as Nectar boss by Aimia managing director of European commercial development Will Shuckburgh. He started at Nectar in July 2004 as an analyst and has worked his way up through the company, holding a number of business development roles.
Aimia’s roots stretch back to 1984 when Air Canada set up its own frequent flier loyalty scheme, Aeroplan. The business was spun off from the airline in January 2002, going public in 2005. It bought Nectar owner Loyalty Management Group in 2007 and Carlson Marketing Group in 2009. Carlson Marketing – set up in 1938 – was scrapped last year, and rebranded Aimia.
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