CHAMP welcomes Manuel Galindo as new CEO
0CHAMP Cargosystems, a SITA Group company, today announced the appointment of Manuel Galindo as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, marking the beginning of an important new chapter in the company’s strategic evolution.
Manuel Galindo is a seasoned SaaS leader with deep expertise in air cargo and logistics technology. He co-founded WebCargo, growing it into the industry’s leading digital platform for air cargo rate management and digital quoting prior to its acquisition by Freightos in 2016. Following the acquisition, Manuel continued to lead WebCargo as CEO, driving the platform’s expansion into deeper air-cargo digitalization and closer airline-forwarder integration. Under his leadership, WebCargo expanded beyond rate management into ebooking, becoming the leading solution for airline-forwarder digital bookings globally. During this period, Manuel also served as part of Freightos’ executive leadership team, later taking on the role of Chief Revenue Officer, where he oversaw the global commercial strategy at the group level.
As CEO of CHAMP, Manuel brings a long-term, platform-driven perspective focused on addressing the evolving needs of the air cargo market. His strategic priorities include strengthening the CHAMP neo Platform, improving interoperability across airline and partner systems, and supporting customers as air cargo continues to move toward more standardized, digital, and data-driven operations. Under his leadership, CHAMP aims to reinforce its role as a trusted, mission-critical technology partner for the global air cargo ecosystem.
David Lavorel, CEO of SITA Group, said: “Manuel steps into the role at a pivotal moment for the air cargo industry. With IATA forecasting global air cargo demand to grow by 2.6% in 2026, reaching about 71.6 million tons vs 70 million in 2025, the pressure on airlines, handlers, and forwarders to scale efficiently has never been greater. As digitalization accelerates and operational complexity increases, the industry is relying more than ever on robust, flexible, and seamlessly connected platforms to keep global supply chains moving. Together with the CHAMP leadership team, Manuel is well-positioned to guide the organisation through its next stage of growth and to support the industry as it navigates rising digital, operational, and scale demands.”
Manuel Galindo, CEO at CHAMP, commented: “I look forward to building on the strong strategic foundation Chris has laid. As I step into this role, my focus is to reinforce CHAMP’s position as a highly trusted, mission-critical technology partner for the global air cargo community. Our industry is evolving rapidly, and we are committed to delivering the resilient, interoperable, and forward-looking solutions our customers need to thrive in this new digital era.”
Manuel Galindo succeeds Chris McDermott, who has served as CEO since October 2020 during a period of significant strategic alignment and transformation.
CHAMP Cargosystems, a SITA Group company, today announced the appointment of Manuel Galindo as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, marking the beginning of an important new chapter in the company’s strategic evolution.
Manuel Galindo is a seasoned SaaS leader with deep expertise in air cargo and logistics technology. He co-founded WebCargo, growing it into the industry’s leading digital platform for air cargo rate management and digital quoting prior to its acquisition by Freightos in 2016. Following the acquisition, Manuel continued to lead WebCargo as CEO, driving the platform’s expansion into deeper air-cargo digitalization and closer airline-forwarder integration. Under his leadership, WebCargo expanded beyond rate management into ebooking, becoming the leading solution for airline-forwarder digital bookings globally. During this period, Manuel also served as part of Freightos’ executive leadership team, later taking on the role of Chief Revenue Officer, where he oversaw the global commercial strategy at the group level.
As CEO of CHAMP, Manuel brings a long-term, platform-driven perspective focused on addressing the evolving needs of the air cargo market. His strategic priorities include strengthening the CHAMP neo Platform, improving interoperability across airline and partner systems, and supporting customers as air cargo continues to move toward more standardized, digital, and data-driven operations. Under his leadership, CHAMP aims to reinforce its role as a trusted, mission-critical technology partner for the global air cargo ecosystem.
David Lavorel, CEO of SITA Group, said: “Manuel steps into the role at a pivotal moment for the air cargo industry. With IATA forecasting global air cargo demand to grow by 2.6% in 2026, reaching about 71.6 million tons vs 70 million in 2025, the pressure on airlines, handlers, and forwarders to scale efficiently has never been greater. As digitalization accelerates and operational complexity increases, the industry is relying more than ever on robust, flexible, and seamlessly connected platforms to keep global supply chains moving. Together with the CHAMP leadership team, Manuel is well-positioned to guide the organisation through its next stage of growth and to support the industry as it navigates rising digital, operational, and scale demands.”
Manuel Galindo, CEO at CHAMP, commented: “I look forward to building on the strong strategic foundation Chris has laid. As I step into this role, my focus is to reinforce CHAMP’s position as a highly trusted, mission-critical technology partner for the global air cargo community. Our industry is evolving rapidly, and we are committed to delivering the resilient, interoperable, and forward-looking solutions our customers need to thrive in this new digital era.”
Manuel Galindo succeeds Chris McDermott, who has served as CEO since October 2020 during a period of significant strategic alignment and transformation.