Spotnana welcomes Frank Pelzer as Chief Operating Officer

We are excited to welcome Frank Pelzer, a travel industry veteran, as our Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this new role, he will help Spotnana continue to grow and drive innovation for our partners and customers.

Frank has over 30 years of experience in finance, investment banking, management consulting, investor relations, and business operations. He previously served as CFO of Concur, President and COO of the Cloud Business Group at SAP, and CFO of F5.

“We are pleased to be able to attract world-class leaders, such as Frank Pelzer, who not only excel in executing at scale but are also passionate about our mission to modernize the infrastructure of the travel industry,” said Steve Singh, Executive Chairman and CEO at Spotnana. “Frank is a customer and people-driven leader with a proven track record of scaling high-growth companies. We will benefit from his leadership and extensive operational expertise as we navigate the next decade.”

We spoke with Frank about his background, his reasons for joining Spotnana, and what he looks forward to in his new role.

Can you tell us about your background?

“Before joining Spotnana, I was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at F5, a security and app services company. Prior to my role at F5, I was the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Cloud Business Group at SAP and the CFO of Concur. I also spent ten years in investment banking, holding senior leadership positions at Deutsche Bank AG and Credit Suisse Group. 

I met Steve Singh, Spotnana’s Executive Chairman and CEO, over twenty years ago, and he’s why I joined Concur in 2010 as CFO.”

Why did you decide to join Spotnana?

“I chose to join Spotnana for two main reasons. First, I felt there was unfinished business at Concur when we sold to SAP in 2014. Concur was on a mission to create The Perfect Trip, but we could not fully achieve this because we didn’t own many of the data inputs related to travel providers and travel content. Spotnana, with its modern technology and its relationships with TMCs and travel providers, offers a unique opportunity to significantly enhance the travel experience for corporate and leisure travelers. 

Second, I’m excited to work with Steve Singh again. He’s a fantastic leader and dear friend.”

What problem is Spotnana solving? 

“Spotnana is addressing something that has been overlooked in the travel industry for decades: the need to simplify and modernize the infrastructure that connects travel providers, sellers, and buyers. 

The travel industry is enormous, valued at around $11-12 trillion. Despite its size, there is still significant potential for transformative innovation. While travel experiences have improved over the past thirty years, there remain opportunities to further reduce the stress associated with travel and create The Perfect Trip. Spotnana aims to tackle the inefficiencies in travel infrastructure, ultimately providing a more seamless experience for the billions of people who travel each year.”

What is significant about Spotnana being an open platform?

“I believe that Spotnana being an open platform is incredibly important. Many companies add value across the travel supply chain. By building an open platform, Spotnana makes it easy for others to build integrations and create new product offerings on the foundation we’re providing. We hope to accelerate innovation across all parts of the travel ecosystem so everyone can work together to deliver better experiences for travelers around the world.”

What excites you most about this role as Spotnana’s COO?

“The team members I’ve met are highly engaged, focused, and personable. Serving as Spotnana’s COO is a great opportunity to take what I’ve learned at larger companies like Concur and F5 and, when it makes sense, put it into action at Spotnana. I want to utilize my skills and expertise to help Spotnana navigate any challenges or roadblocks as it continues to scale. I look forward to contributing to the company’s expansion in 2025 and beyond.”

Why is travel important to you?

“Travel is important to me because it’s what connects us all. My first trip abroad was in 1991 while I was in college, and my first corporate job later took me to Tokyo multiple times. Throughout my career, I have traveled the world approximately 160 times over thousands of business trips. I believe that travel broadens your perspective and understanding. It has helped me become a more empathetic and compassionate leader.”