Swissport Announces Change In Management

April 14, 2014
Luzius Wirth will take over responsibility for Group Services from Erich Bodenmann on April 17.

Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground and cargo services to the aviation industry, today announced that Erich Bodenmann, Executive Vice President (EVP) Group Services, will retire and leave the company by the end of April. Luzius Wirth will take over responsibility for Group Services from Erich Bodenmann with effect 17th April 2014. In his new role as Senior Vice President Group Services Luzius Wirth will directly report to Per H. Utnegaard, Group President & CEO of Swissport International.

Erich Bodenmann will leave Swissport for early retirement by the end of April 2014, after 25 years at Swissair/Swissport. He joined the company in 1986, and held various positions in Switzerland and Ireland, before he moved to the US. At the beginning of 2004, Erich Bodenmann was promoted to EVP The Americas, where he in the following years managed to win major outsourcing contracts and achieved significant organic growth in North and Latin America. After relocating to Zurich in 2009 and holding the role as EVP Aviation Speciality Services Erich Bodenmann became EVP Group Services in 2011. His vast experience is based on 23 years of management board activities, of which 14 years as member of the Swissport Group Executive Management.

The responsibilities of Erich Bodenmann for Swissport Group Services LLC in Baar, Switzerland will be handed over to Luzius Wirth. Luzius Wirth started at Swissport International in January 2012 as Vice President Swissport Formula and later on as Vice President Corporate Operations & Quality focusing on standardizing Swissport’s global operation. In addition to his current scope he now will also lead the IT and Corporate Supply Management teams and will focus on aligning them with the company´s business strategy and goals.

Per H. Utnegaard, Group President & CEO Swissport International, commented: “The list of Erich Bodenmann´s accomplishments for Swissport is impressive, and I am grateful for his many years of dedication and exceptional contribution in his various roles. I wish him all the best for his future. With Luzius Wirth taking over the lead for Group Services I am confident we have chosen the right person to continue improving the value of group wide services for the benefit of our company.”