Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher has 35 years of experience in the global airline and travel industry. His career began at American Airlines Decision Technologies, where he worked on pioneering innovations in revenue management and network optimization. Over the years, Dr. Ben Khedher has held key leadership roles, including senior executive positions at Travelocity in the US and Sabre Holdings in EMEA and worldwide. In June 2012, he joined the Emirates Group as Deputy CIO and Senior Vice President of Business Technology, tasked with aligning business and IT strategies. His expertise in transformation led to his appointment as the Head of Emirates Skywards in July 2015. Under his leadership, the Skywards program has grown from a frequent flyer program into a lifestyle loyalty platform, tripling its membership base and introducing numerous industry-first innovations. Concurrently, he served as Interim CIO for Emirates from November 2021 to May 2023. He holds a PhD in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and multiple master's degrees in Robotics, Information Technology, and Air Transportation from leading French institutions in Toulouse.
· How can airlines make spending miles easier to attract a wider range of customers?
· Is incorporating high-level customisation and flexibility now a necessity, and how can digital transformation aid in this offering?
· How can airlines offer variety and gamification, rather than simply rewarding the biggest spenders?
· Can airlines introduce sustainable options to draw and retain environmentally mindful members?
· Considering the recent conversation around the devaluation of loyalty points, how can airlines maintain customer trust and program appeal?