Lufthansa hands top UK job to Star Alliance chief

Lufthansa has appointed Dieter Grotepass as its new sales and marketing director for UK and Ireland.

Eric Burgoyne, who was the previous chief, has left the company to join Honolulu-based tour company Atlantis Adventures as vice-president of marketing.

Grotepass moves across from the Star Alliance, where he was on secondment from Lufthansa as general manager market presence. Lufthansa is part of the Star Alliance.

At the Star Alliance, Grotepass was responsible for developing marketing and sales strategies for the 13 member carriers.

Lufthansa recently moved its &£20m global advertising account into McCann-Erickson Worldwide (MW July 20).

The agency is now developing an advertising campaign to target key international markets including the US, UK and France.

Grotepass, who will be based at Heathrow, reports to Lufthansa’s regional vice-president Ulrich Wachter.

Ulrich says: “I am confident that our position as an important and

significant regional and global carrier will be strengthened under Grotepass’ leadership.”

Grotepass joined Lufthansa in 1968 as an airline administration trainee.

He has held various managerial positions in marketing and sales at the company, including spells in Japan, Sweden and Germany.