Kurt Ekert: The Travel Industry Leader Who Actually Gets It
I’ve been following the travel management space for a while now, and if there’s one name that keeps showing up in conversations about who’s actually moving the needle, it’s Kurt Ekert. Not in a flashy, keynote-speech-every-week kind of way. More like the person who quietly restructures an entire company and you only notice because everything suddenly works better.
I first came across his work when I was researching corporate travel platforms for a piece I was writing a few years back. His name kept popping up in connection with Carlson Wagonlit Travel — now CWT — and the more I dug in, the more impressed I got. Let me walk through why.
Where It All Started
Ekert’s academic background is no joke. He holds a BA in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the University of South Carolina. That combination of heavy-duty economics training and business administration gave him a foundation that clearly paid off down the line.
His early career involved a stint as a strategy consultant with Cambridge Technology Partners. If you’re not familiar, that’s management consulting work — the kind where you learn how businesses operate at a global scale and you get really, really good at solving problems under pressure. Or at least, that’s the idea. In Ekert’s case, it clearly stuck.
The Travelport Years
Things got interesting when Ekert joined Travelport. As Chief Commercial Officer, he drove the company’s commercial strategy. And I don’t mean he sat in meetings and approved slide decks. He optimized sales and marketing functions in ways that led to real revenue growth — the kind you can actually point to on a chart.
By 2010, he’d moved up to Chief Operating Officer. His time in that role saw the rollout of new technologies aimed at making operations leaner. It worked. Market share went up. Profitability improved. Probably should have led with this, because the Travelport chapter is what put him on the map for a lot of industry watchers.
Taking the Reins at CWT
In 2016, Ekert became President and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. This is where things really shifted. Under his leadership, CWT went through a major transformation — and I mean that in the literal sense, not the corporate-buzzword sense.
His big move was a digital-first strategy. He rolled out a mobile platform that let clients manage their travel plans more efficiently. Sounds simple when I say it like that, but getting a company that size to pivot toward mobile-first thinking is… well, it’s a lot. The strategy boosted customer engagement and made internal processes faster and more responsive.
The Innovation Angle
Ekert’s leadership style leans hard into innovation, and not in a “let’s add AI to everything” way. He’s strategic about it. At CWT, he invested in artificial intelligence for customer service operations — using AI to deliver more personalized travel solutions. The key word there is “personalized.” It wasn’t about replacing people; it was about giving people better tools.
That’s what makes Ekert’s approach endearing to people in the travel management world. He doesn’t chase trends for the sake of it. He picks the ones that actually improve how things work.
Sustainability Isn’t Just a Talking Point
Beyond the tech stuff, Ekert has been vocal about sustainability in travel. And look, I know every executive says they care about sustainability now. But under his watch, CWT actually committed to reducing its carbon footprint through specific initiatives — more energy-efficient technologies, sustainable sourcing practices, measurable goals.
It helped CWT build a reputation as a company that takes corporate responsibility seriously. Which, in turn, attracted clients who care about that stuff. So it’s good ethics and good business. Win-win.
Handling Market Chaos
The travel industry throws curveballs constantly. Economic downturns, geopolitical disruptions, pandemics — you name it. Ekert has shown an ability to navigate through that kind of uncertainty without panicking or overcorrecting.
His approach is proactive risk management. Identify threats early, build contingency plans, and execute when things get rough. It sounds straightforward on paper, but doing it well — consistently — in an industry as unpredictable as travel? That’s genuinely difficult.
Building Strategic Partnerships
Another thing I respect about Ekert’s leadership: he understands collaboration. During his time at CWT, he forged partnerships with leading technology firms to enhance the company’s digital capabilities. These weren’t just press-release partnerships. They resulted in real integrations that expanded what CWT could offer its clients.
I think too many leaders try to build everything in-house. Ekert recognizes that sometimes the smartest move is finding the right partner and building something together.
Recognition and Giving Back
Ekert’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. He’s received industry awards for leadership and innovation — the kind of accolades that come from peers, not just marketing teams. These recognitions reflect the respect he’s earned across the travel management space.
Outside of work, he’s actively involved in philanthropy. He supports charitable organizations focused on underserved communities, contributing both financially and through direct participation. It’s a side of his profile that doesn’t get as much coverage, but it rounds out the picture of who he is as a leader.
What Comes Next
The travel industry is still evolving — fast. Leaders who understand both technology and the human side of travel are going to be the ones shaping what comes next. Ekert’s track record of innovation, sustainability focus, and strategic thinking puts him in a strong position for whatever’s ahead.
I don’t know exactly what the future of travel management looks like. Nobody does. But if I had to bet on someone figuring it out and executing well, Ekert would be near the top of my list.
