Published on
September 18, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
Travelport, a global leader in travel technology, has appointed John Mangelaars, former CEO of Skyscanner, as its new chief operating officer (COO). In this role, Mangelaars will oversee all of the company’s commercial activities. His appointment is a significant step in Travelport’s strategic move to continue transforming its services and expand its reach across the travel technology industry. Mangelaars brings a wealth of experience, having spent over four years leading Skyscanner, the popular travel metasearch engine, before stepping down in 2025. His background in leading digital platforms will be a critical asset to Travelport’s ambitions.
Mangelaars’ leadership at Skyscanner is widely regarded as pivotal in the company’s success. Under his guidance, Skyscanner expanded its presence globally, offering consumers a more intuitive search experience while enhancing its metasearch capabilities. His ability to steer innovative technology solutions, combined with his strong leadership in transforming digital platforms, makes him a perfect fit for Travelport’s mission to redefine the travel industry through technology. His previous role as CEO of Travix International, a travel technology company that was acquired by the Trip.com Group, further demonstrates his deep understanding of the evolving needs of the global travel market.
Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport, expressed his confidence in Mangelaars’ ability to help the company maintain its momentum. Webb highlighted Mangelaars’ proven track record of revolutionising travel platforms at both Skyscanner and Travix as key factors in his appointment. “John’s enterprise technology expertise and leadership in travel innovation will play a key role as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible within the travel sector,” Webb said in a statement. This new appointment marks a key milestone for Travelport as it strengthens its leadership team and positions itself as a leading player in the global travel technology landscape.
As COO, Mangelaars will inherit a pivotal role in Travelport’s future growth. His leadership will encompass strategic direction across the company’s commercial activities, helping Travelport continue to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing travel landscape. With Mangelaars at the helm of the company’s operations, Travelport is poised to accelerate its growth and adapt to new opportunities in the travel and technology sectors. His appointment signals a clear commitment to driving the company’s ongoing transformation and ensuring its leadership in the evolving travel market.
Mangelaars takes over from John Elieson, Travelport’s outgoing COO and deputy CEO. Elieson has served nearly six years at Travelport, helping steer the company through significant changes and challenges in the travel technology industry. Elieson’s departure marks the end of a notable chapter for Travelport, but the transition to Mangelaars is a strategic decision aimed at bringing fresh leadership to guide the company into the future. This leadership shift is reflective of Travelport’s forward-thinking approach to staying ahead in the competitive travel technology market.
John Mangelaars’ wealth of experience and expertise is expected to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to Travelport. His extensive knowledge of both the travel and technology sectors positions him uniquely to drive the next phase of innovation for Travelport. With a reputation for successfully scaling and transforming digital platforms, Mangelaars is set to play a key role in reshaping the future of travel. As the industry continues to embrace new technologies and consumer expectations evolve, Mangelaars’ leadership will be vital in maintaining Travelport’s competitive edge and market leadership.
Travelport’s decision to appoint Mangelaars is indicative of its ambition to remain at the forefront of the travel technology industry. His ability to navigate complex digital transformations and his track record of success with global companies make him an ideal leader for this new phase in Travelport’s journey. As the company continues to refine its offerings and expand its presence globally, Mangelaars will be instrumental in guiding Travelport toward further success. His appointment is not only a strategic move for the company but also a clear signal of Travelport’s continued focus on driving innovation in the travel technology sector.
