Lars Pottgiesser | Lars Pottgiesser, Head, Business Development / Regional Vice President Office, The Americas, International Air Transportation As
IATA

Lars Pottgiesser is IATA’s Head of Business Development & Strategy for the Americas region, the global trade association whose 330 member airlines transport more than 80% of total air traffic. Lars works with IATA’s eleven local offices spread out in the Americas region from Canada to Chile, to proactively pursue IATA’s industry priorities with governmental authorities and industry stakeholders to make the air transport industry safer, more secure, efficient, sustainable, and profitable while implementing global standards and best practices. Over the past 16 years, Lars has worked in a variety of functions at IATA in the areas of aviation data intelligence, passenger services, market research and communication, and is responsible for the execution of IATA’s advocacy communication tools and events, including Aviation Days and Wings of Change Conferences in the Americas.  In 2019, Lars was nominated to chair the Aviation Committee of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council to promote Miami-Dade County as a global hub for the aviation and aerospace industry by supporting recruitment, expansion, and retention programs. Prior to joining IATA, Lars worked for one of the leading Public Affairs firms in the South-eastern United States with a special focus on crisis management, strategy development, brand management and media relations. Fluent in English, German and Spanish, Lars was born in Germany and received his MBA with a concentration in International Business from the University of Tampa in Florida and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri while competing as a collegiate soccer player.