High-profile travel and meetings executive at Hewlett-Packard Co. Kevin Iwamoto has joined StarCite Inc., Philadelphia, in the newly created position of vice president, enterprise strategy. He will be responsible for directing StarCite’s approach to engaging with buyers and suppliers.

Iwamoto brings 20 years of experience in the travel industry to the job, including the last 10 years running HP’s $1.2 billion global travel and meetings program as global commodity manager. The program directs air travel, corporate cards, hotels, ground transportation, and meeting programs, and uses StarCite’s Web-based solutions to strategically manage meetings and events.

Iwamoto served as president of the National Business Travel Association Board of Directors from 2001-2003 and as past president/chairman from 2003-2004. He received that association’s President’s Award in 2004.

Iwamoto says he hopes to use his role at StarCite “to raise awareness of the benefits of strategic meetings management” and technology’s part in that process. “Through my years as a travel and meetings manager at HP,” said Iwamoto in a statement, “I can appreciate the importance of implementing a strategic meetings management program and the role that technology plays in this crucial area of travel spend.”

Related link:
StarCite Appoints New CEO, July 2008