Martin Ferguson is a storyteller at heart and strategist by trade, with over 15 years of experience helping organisations in the managed travel sector communicate with clarity and confidence. A former journalist, he’s spent his career asking relevant questions, finding the right words, and helping people connect the dots – from boardrooms to global stages.
As VP of Global Communications and Public Affairs at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), Martin led a multi-disciplinary team covering everything from PR and internal comms to global events, public affairs, and social impact. He advised the CEO and senior leadership team through major moments of change and helped shape the voice of one of the industry’s most recognisable brands.
Earlier, he ran EMEA communications for Sabre before building a successful freelance practice supporting TMCs, travel tech firms, and global brands. Along the way, he’s written speeches that have set the tone – and sometimes the temperature – for the business travel industry – and is still called on to help leaders say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.
Martin began his career in newspapers and TV before editing two of the UK’s top business travel publications. He’s a long-time conference host, speaker coach, and content wrangler, known for making complex topics simple – and occasionally entertaining.
He served on the board of the Institute of Travel Management for six years and currently sits on the GBTA Europe Advisory Board. In 2012, he co-founded The Business Travel People Awards, which continues to celebrate the real stars of the UK industry.
At Kintela, he brings together strategy, storytelling, and just enough mischief to help brands sound like humans – and do work that matters.