Paul Abbott, who has led the corporate travel and meetings and events business for the past seven years as its CEO, has become operating partner with Long Lake.
Taking Abbott’s place at the helm of Amex GBT is Drew Crawley, who has been the company’s president since 2020, overseeing Amex GBT’s commercial aspects.
Prior to joining Amex GBT, Crawley spent 15 years in the airline industry, with British Airways and its parent company International Airlines Group.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to lead Amex GBT as we enter this exciting new chapter,” said Crawley.
“Paul and I have worked together for many years, and I want to thank him for his leadership and partnership and the contributions he has made to the company.
“Amex GBT has the best customers, partners and people in the industry. With the support of Long Lake and their applied AI expertise, we will define the future of managed travel, delivering on the promise of high-tech and high-touch solutions.”
Abbott called leading Amex GBT “one of the greatest honours of my career”.
“I am enormously proud of what our team has accomplished together and, most importantly, of the company we have built,” he said.
“I have had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented and committed team, and I want to thank every one of them for their dedication, resilience and belief in what we could achieve together.
“This is the right time for the next chapter, both for Amex GBT and for me, and I could not be more confident in Drew and the leadership team.”
Long Lake’s CEO, Alex Taubman, praised both leaders.
“Paul has been instrumental to Amex GBT’s success, and we’re grateful his expertise will continue with us in his new role as operating partner with Long Lake,” said Taubman.
“Drew’s leadership, deep industry expertise and trusted relationships with customers and partners have been central to that success, and we look forward to the future under his leadership.”
First announced in May, Long Lake’s US$6.3 billion takeover of Amex GBT was finalised last week, sending the company, which went public in 2022, back into private ownership.
Long Lake is self-described as the “world’s first AI holding company”.
