Roland Geiger, 64, leaves Lufthansa German Airlines at the end of August 2004 after working for the German high standard airline for 42 years…
Roland Geiger, 64, leaves Lufthansa German Airlines at the end of August 2004 after working for the German high standard airline for 42 years. The last 10 years he spent in Athens, Greece, being responsible for the Airport services in Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
On April 1st, 1962 Roland Geiger joined Lufthansa German Airlines in Munich, where he was introduced to the airline business and especially airport operations. 7 years later Lufthansa sent him abroad, to London, where the innovative airline introduced their own airport handling. In 1972 he returned to Germany and worked in various positions at several German stations. In 1979, one year before the Olympic Games in Moscow, the life of Mr. Geiger totally changed. He decided to support Lufthansa during the Games in Moscow. He enjoyed working with people from different nations and cultures, and he finally never ever went back to Germany for work.
On the Spanish holiday island Ibiza he spent only two years from 1985-1987, before turning back to his beloved Moscow, where another exciting period began. Lufthansa increased flights and destinations to Russia. Feasability studies for Novosibirsk, Tashkent, Souchoumi and Mineraliwada where conducted by Roland Geiger. He was also involved in opening the new airport of Kiev when the Lufthansa flight arrived with a large delegation. He could win Lufthansa as a sponsor of several hospitals and took initiative in collecting money for medical treatment of children, who still suffered injuries and cancer of the Tschernobyl accident. He was flying in toys, plaster and other goods.
In 1991 he was leaving Russia, and he took along his memories and his second wife, a beautiful young Russian lady.
From 1991 till 1995 he stayed in Hungarian capital city Budapest. In 1995 Roland Geiger finally left the Eastern countries and started a new life in Athens, Greece. Greece always played a role in my life he stated. The first time I visited Greece was in 1962, just after having started my job with Lufthansa. I have booked holidays in Paros and was flying on Lufthansa, starting in Munich via Istanbul to Athens. For our hotel room that time we paid 2,50 DM (1,25 €) for a night, Mr. Geiger remembers.
After this first time he visited Greece regularly. In 1964 he got married and he took his wife for honeymoon to Greece.
Nearly 10 years he is living in Greece now. He was in charge when the new airport Eleftherios Venizelos was inaugurated. He made it possible that the Lufthansa Senator and Business Lounge was the first lounge furnished at the new airport, 2 months before the official opening. He was on duty for 20 hours that night, when the airport moved from Hellenikon to Spata.
This year Athens was awarded as TOP Lufthansa station of the month of March 2004. 92% of all travellers leaving from Athens have declared that they are satisfied with Lufthansa Service at the airport.This was the highest rate of all Lufthansa stations worldwide.
And this year Roland Geiger had the chance for a final highlight in his professional carrier: the Olympic Games 2004 in Athens. Without the new airport the Olympic Games would not have been possible, Roland Geiger said. The Olympic Games are a good opportunity for Greece, and especially Athens, he continous. The infrastructure, streets, highways and metro are only some of the innovations.The development downtown, the pedastrian area around Plaka and Ermou street are further great improvements for the Greek capitol.
Roland Geiger enjoys his life in Greece. He likes playing tennis and enjoys the mediterranean clima, the fresh fruits and the various excursions to the Greek islands. He has already traveled to more places in Greece than the most of the Greeks. He is member of the German Archaological organisation in Greece and visited most of the ancient places.
So what is next after the successful Games in Athens? This winter I will spend in Thailand he answered. And then I will come back to Greece…
Last year he bought an apartment in Voula. I want to stay in Greece even after being retired, he explained. At least as long as I am healthy, he added.
New Lufthansa Manager Airport Services at Eleftherios Venizelos
With immediate effect Dirk Lorenzen takes over the position Manager Airport Services for Greece, Cyprus and Israel. He is succeeding Mr. Roland Geiger, who was in charge of this position for the last ten years before getting retired this month.
Dirk Lorenzen, 46 years, was born in Flensburg, Germany and joined Lufthansa in 1978. He took part in a three years Management Training Program in the Lufthansa Headquarters in Cologne. During this time he was sent for the first time for two months to Hellenikon Airport in 1980. In 1981 Dirk Lorenzen took over his first position as sales agent at Duesseldorf Airport, where he spent another three years. After a short sidestep in Frankfurt he decided to leave Germany again and he was promoted Assistant Station Manager of Istanbul Airport, where he stayed for two years. In 1987 Mr. Lorenzen took over the position Sales and Station Manager of Heraklion Airport, where he spent 3 1/2 years. In Summer 1991 he took another challenge when he was asked to build up the Sales and Airport Organisation in St. Petersburg, Russia. Five years he stayed in Russia, working hand-in-hand with his colleague in Moscow, who was no-one else than Roland Geiger that time. In 1996 Dirk Lorenzen went back with his family to Germany in order to take over the project Management at GlobeGround for Eastern Europe, later for Italy, Spain and Portugal, before he was promoted General Manager Business Development for Italy, Spain, Portugal and Africa for Globeground/Servisair. In May 2002 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of GlobeGround Italia. In January 2004 he turned back to Lufthansa working at Global Sales Strategies in Frankfurt, before taking over his current position at Athens International Airport and coming back to Greece for the third time.
Dirk Lorenzen is working at Eleftherios Venizelos already since May this year and supported the Lufthansa team successfully during the Olympic Games 2004. He is married and has got two children.
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