Travel management company heavyweight CWT has withdrawn its
support from the Global Business Travel Association in the wake of allegations
against CEO Scott Solombrino of "behaviour so abhorrent to our own code of
conduct and totally at odds with both our corporate and personal values,"
according to a letter dated June 30 and addressed to GBTA board of directors
chairman Christle Johnson. CWT's letter was first reported by The Company Dime
and independently obtained by BTN.
CWT formally canceled the company's corporate membership in
the association and withdrew participation of all CWT employees from the "GBTA
board, committees, events or projects, plus any individual memberships which
are paid for directly, or indirectly, by CWT," according to the letter,
which was signed by VP and head of external communications and public relations
Julian Walker.
The letter acknowledges the actions taken to date by the
board, which placed
Solombrino on administrative leave as of June 19 and launched a formal
investigation into the allegations.
According to the letter, however, CWT is dissatisfied with
the pace of progress: "… we are disappointed that no resolution has been
reached concerning these matters to date and are concerned at the wider
negative impact that further delay may cause," it reads.
CWT specified its withdrawal took effect at midnight on June
30, but left the door open for future re-engagement with the association,
"pending a satisfactory outcome of the enquiries," which would
"depend entirely on whether the organization is able to demonstrate
clearly that it is, to our thinking, fit and proper to represent our
industry."
Walker authenticated the letter to BTN but had no further
comment. BTN contacted GBTA for a statement, but the organization did not immediately
respond.
CWT's defection follows that of another managed travel
industry giant: SAP Concur, which withdrew
its support from GBTA more than a week ago. In the meantime, some GBTA
committees have lodged their dissatisfaction with progress on the matter. The
Risk Committee collectively
has threatened resignation pending the outcome of the investigation, while
the Accommodations Committee has
suspended Covid-19-related deliverables and has suggested it might publish
them through an alternate channel should the GBTA matter not come to a timely
close with appropriate action.