Global Travel & Tourism Summit Printed Programme

Profiles
The Programme
INDUSTRY
Nick Fry
Chief Executive Officer
Honda Racing F1 Team
Nick Fry joined the Ford Motor Company in 1978 after gaining a degree in Economics
from the University of Wales. Over the next 11 years he held a variety of positions
within Ford and was appointed Director of Operations for Aston Martin after Ford acquired more than 50%
of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited in 1992.
Fry was Brand Manager for Large Cars at Ford Europe for two years, with responsibility for developing the
Mondeo brand and he helped develop the popular ‘ST’ sport models. In his final two years with Ford, Fry
was Product Planning and Business Director for Europe, based in Cologne, Germany.
In January 2001, Fry became Prodrive Automotive Technology Managing Director, responsible for leading
Prodrive’s expansion into outsourced engineering services. Within four months of his appointment, major
steps had been taken to expand the company nationally and internationally with the acquisition of the
Tickford Group. During his time there, he became Group Managing Director overseeing the company’s
engineering and racing operations.
Fry joined the British American Racing (BAR) Formula One team at the start of 2002, under the
management agreement with Prodrive, and in 2003 was appointed Managing Director. Following Honda
Motor Company’s acquisition of BAR at the end of 2005, Fry became Chief Executive Officer for the newly
re-named Honda Racing F1 Team.
Ed Gilligan
Vice Chairman
American Express Company
Edward P Gilligan is vice chairman of American Express Company, a position he
assumed in June 2007. He is responsible for the company’s global business-to-business
group, which includes: the merchant services business, the network services business, the commercial card and
services business, and business travel.
He is a member of the Operating Committee, which is responsible for developing the strategic direction for
American Express and determining policies affecting the company overall.
Ed joined American Express in 1980 as a temporary employee while studying for his BS in Economics and
Management at New York University. He began his full time service with the company in 1982.
He was named a vice president of Business Travel in March 1988. He went on to become a senior vice
president of Commercial Card and Business Travel for the Eastern Region of the United States in June 1992.
He assumed the role of business unit president for Commercial Card and Business Travel for the United
States in June 1995. In June 2002, Ed was named one of two group presidents at the company, overseeing
the international consumer card business and the global portfolio of payment and travel services offered to
corporate clients worldwide.
Ed lives in London with his wife Lisa and four children.
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