As Executive Vice President of Technology, Products & Innovation, Russ Howell leads BCD Travel’s companywide product planning, development, and technology organizations. In this role, he is responsible for driving the company’s product and IT strategies, supporting the company’s operations strategies, and for delivering the technology, integrations and infrastructure required to bring those strategies to life. With over two decades of experience in the corporate travel industry, he brings broad global experience in aligning technology with business drivers, leading change in competitive environments, and driving innovation.

Russ oversees all aspects of technology strategy development and execution, organized into six areas key to BCD Travel’s success: Product Planning & Corporate Intelligence, Information Security, Client Data Solutions, Enterprise Development, Infrastructure & Communications Technology (ICT), and Travel Technology.

Before joining BCD Travel, Russ held the role of Vice President, Global Travel Technologies at American Express. Prior to that role, he spent three years leading travel technologies for American Express in Europe. He started his career in travel technology in 1991 with Wagons-Lits Travel in the U.S., moving to Paris in 1994 during the merger that formed Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Other professional experiences have included: District Supervisor for Aldi Foods in Ohio (1990-1991), IT Consultant with ITIM Associates in London (1996-1997), and CIO of internet startup ePipeline in Atlanta (2000-2005).