CALGARY — WestJet has expanded its Agency Sales team with four new Business Development Managers and one Commercial Account Manager.

According to Jane Clementino, Director of Agency Sales, 2020 will be the year to redesign her team structure “to ensure further development and investment in trade partner relationships and targeted sales growth.”

Annique Slowey

WestJet’s new Commercial Account Manager is Annique Slowey, who brings with her a combined 18 years of experience in the travel and airline industries, most recently from Hertz Canada. Slowey was the Country Lead at United Airlines for more than eight years and has held several positions in sales, including Account Manager and Regional Sales Manager.

Cesar Alvarenga

Coming onboard as one of four new Business Development Managers is Cesar Alvarenga, who joins WestJet from his most recent role as BDM, Strategic Accounts for Aeromexico. He has also held positions with Avianca Airlines as Duty Manager for Toronto, Montreal and JFK, and Station Manager in Orlando and Boston.

David Paton

David Paton, also a Business Development Manager, most recently worked at AmexGBT and spent 13 years with Flight Centre Canada as Travel and Store Manager. Patton brings with him a successful corporate agency background, including International Consulting, and has experience working with both leisure and corporate/small and medium-sized enterprise accounts.

Grant Lawlor

With 26 years of airline and tourism industry experience, Grant Lawlor now joins WestJet as Business Development Manager. His most recent role was National Groups Manager, and also served as Business Development Manager, Atlantic Canada at Unique Vacations for 13 years. Prior to that, he worked at Harmony Airways & Harmony Vacations in Call Centre & Group Sales, as well as Signature Vacations Vancouver as Supervisor Group Sales & Airport Passenger Services.

Carlos Peralta

Lastly, Carlos Peralta, who has been appointed Business Development Manager, WestJet Vacations, comes to WestJet from Meliá Hotels International where he served as Associate Director of Travel Industry Sales & Partnership for 16 years. Prior to that, Peralta held several roles in Honduras including Business Unit Leader at Amadeus IT Group, Sales Rep for Continental Airlines and KLM, and Reservations Sales Agent for TACA.

On what the new additions mean to WestJet, Chuck Crowder, WestJet Vice President, Sales and Distribution, said: “As WestJet grows globally and transforms into a network airline, we remain committed to supporting and building relationships with our valued travel trade partners. Our partners will benefit from the breadth of airline and travel industry experience our new team members bring, and we know that our trusted Agency Sales team is now even stronger.”