After more than 30 years in air transport, Eric Didier is launching himself into a new entrepreneurial venture.
With Laurence Deblonde-Buisson and Yannick De Maria, he created TED Advisory Services, a consulting firm aimed at companies in transport, travel, hospitality and mobility.
The name TED refers to three words that summarize their approach: Transport, Efficiency and Disruption. « We want to have a 360° approach, explains Eric Didier. The idea is to be able to look at a company as a whole and not only at a single issue.”
The firm addresses issues such as market development, commercial performance, distribution, customer experience, organization, and transformation.
It can also support very concrete operations, such as opening a stopover, launching a route, setting up a charter flight or an operation in sensitive environments.
The philosophy can be summed up in a few words: challenge, structure and accelerate. “We are not a large firm; we are small and reactive,” insists Eric Didier.
A distinction that the three partners also want to emphasize in their way of working. “It’s nice to say ‘you just have to do it,’ that’s easy. We’re not taking that approach.” The firm aims to accompany its clients all the way to the implementation of the recommendations.
With Laurence Deblonde-Buisson and Yannick De Maria, he created TED Advisory Services, a consulting firm aimed at companies in transport, travel, hospitality and mobility.
The name TED refers to three words that summarize their approach: Transport, Efficiency and Disruption. « We want to have a 360° approach, explains Eric Didier. The idea is to be able to look at a company as a whole and not only at a single issue.”
The firm addresses issues such as market development, commercial performance, distribution, customer experience, organization, and transformation.
It can also support very concrete operations, such as opening a stopover, launching a route, setting up a charter flight or an operation in sensitive environments.
The philosophy can be summed up in a few words: challenge, structure and accelerate. “We are not a large firm; we are small and reactive,” insists Eric Didier.
A distinction that the three partners also want to emphasize in their way of working. “It’s nice to say ‘you just have to do it,’ that’s easy. We’re not taking that approach.” The firm aims to accompany its clients all the way to the implementation of the recommendations.
Eric Didier, aviation expert
The first pillar is air transport and commercial development.
An entrepreneur and sector specialist, Eric Didier began his career with British Airways, before taking part in the launch of the Oneworld alliance in France.
In 2001, he joined Qatar Airways to create and develop the company’s activity in France. He spent nearly 17 years there, building teams and supporting the development of several European markets. He later continued his career at Air Astana.
“I have always been involved in development, recruitment, distribution, alliances, opening and closing routes,” he summarizes.
At TED Advisory Services, he works on commercial strategy, market development, alliances and partnerships, distribution, and issues related to air transport.
An entrepreneur and sector specialist, Eric Didier began his career with British Airways, before taking part in the launch of the Oneworld alliance in France.
In 2001, he joined Qatar Airways to create and develop the company’s activity in France. He spent nearly 17 years there, building teams and supporting the development of several European markets. He later continued his career at Air Astana.
“I have always been involved in development, recruitment, distribution, alliances, opening and closing routes,” he summarizes.
At TED Advisory Services, he works on commercial strategy, market development, alliances and partnerships, distribution, and issues related to air transport.
Three complementary profiles
Laurence Deblonde-Buisson brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications and digital within major players of hospitality, tourism and leisure.
Her career has taken her to Choice Hotels Europe, Disneyland Paris and US Airways.
She now focuses on subjects such as marketing, communication, digital, positioning and commercial performance.
“The idea is really to cross our expertise, explains Eric Didier. Each has their own domain, but we can also work together on a global issue.”
Yannick De Maria brings 27 years of experience in aviation, airport assistance, hospitality and international customer relations.
His contribution rests on two axes. The first concerns customer experience and training of ground staff, notably on behaviors and handling difficult situations. The second is much more operational, with support for opening stopovers, charter flights, temporary operations or repatriations in sensitive areas.
“We can go very far in operations,” emphasizes Eric Didier. This approach should enable the firm to move from advisory work to execution, with direct knowledge of field constraints.
Her career has taken her to Choice Hotels Europe, Disneyland Paris and US Airways.
She now focuses on subjects such as marketing, communication, digital, positioning and commercial performance.
“The idea is really to cross our expertise, explains Eric Didier. Each has their own domain, but we can also work together on a global issue.”
Yannick De Maria brings 27 years of experience in aviation, airport assistance, hospitality and international customer relations.
His contribution rests on two axes. The first concerns customer experience and training of ground staff, notably on behaviors and handling difficult situations. The second is much more operational, with support for opening stopovers, charter flights, temporary operations or repatriations in sensitive areas.
“We can go very far in operations,” emphasizes Eric Didier. This approach should enable the firm to move from advisory work to execution, with direct knowledge of field constraints.
From air transport to tourism in the broad sense
Beyond their individual areas of expertise, the three partners share a common vision for the sector.
For Eric Didier, companies operate in an increasingly complex environment and must gain agility.
“We must be agile today. We must anticipate, be a little paranoid, have a plan B and a plan C”, he says.
In his view, three major factors will continue to transform tourism: demographics, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as geopolitics.
These developments can alter traveler behaviors, organizations and business models.
This need to anticipate is also tied to how businesses evolve. His experience in air transport has convinced him that the accumulation of procedures can slow down organizations.
“Too many processes, too many procedures, too many controls kill the company”, he states. He advocates instead for structures that grant more responsibilities to teams and shorten decision-making pathways.
This is precisely the terrain on which TED Advisory Services intends to position itself: between strategic vision and operational reality. “When you are inside a company, you often have your head down on the wheel. We can offer that helicopter view while staying very close to the ground,” sums up Eric Didier.
For the three partners, the challenge will now be to turn this complementarity into concrete assignments, while keeping a deliberately lean structure. “We first want to prove ourselves, be efficient and stay agile,” concludes Eric Didier.
For Eric Didier, companies operate in an increasingly complex environment and must gain agility.
“We must be agile today. We must anticipate, be a little paranoid, have a plan B and a plan C”, he says.
In his view, three major factors will continue to transform tourism: demographics, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as geopolitics.
These developments can alter traveler behaviors, organizations and business models.
This need to anticipate is also tied to how businesses evolve. His experience in air transport has convinced him that the accumulation of procedures can slow down organizations.
“Too many processes, too many procedures, too many controls kill the company”, he states. He advocates instead for structures that grant more responsibilities to teams and shorten decision-making pathways.
This is precisely the terrain on which TED Advisory Services intends to position itself: between strategic vision and operational reality. “When you are inside a company, you often have your head down on the wheel. We can offer that helicopter view while staying very close to the ground,” sums up Eric Didier.
For the three partners, the challenge will now be to turn this complementarity into concrete assignments, while keeping a deliberately lean structure. “We first want to prove ourselves, be efficient and stay agile,” concludes Eric Didier.
Published by Caroline Lelievre Journalist – TourMaG.com
See all articles by Caroline Lelievre
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