VingCard Elsafe Appoints Bill Oliver as North American Vice President and General Manager
VingCard Elsafe, a provider of electronic locking, security and energy management solutions for the hospitality industry, and part of the ASSA ABLOY group, announced the appointment of William J. (Bill) Oliver as vice president and general manager, North America. In this newly created role, Oliver will be responsible for leading all sales and customer operations for VingCard Elsafe brands in the U.S. and Canada.
In collaboration with the executive management team, he will be responsible for supporting strategic sales efforts to expand these key markets and accelerate the company’s overall growth. In addition, he will head up initiatives to streamline customer operations and maximize customer satisfaction through enhanced service and support. The company’s brands include VingCard, electronic locking solutions, Elsafe digital in-room safes and Orion by VingCard Elsafe energy management systems.
"Bill is a seasoned hospitality professional who knows the business inside and out, having extensive experience in both hotel operations and the electronic hotel lock industry. With his knowledge and expertise, as well as an intense focus on customer operations, I am confident that he will help us to fortify our position as the global leader in hotel security technology, as well as establishing VingCard customer service as unmatched in the industry,” said Bob Aquilino, president for VingCard Elsafe.
Oliver’s appointment is part of a new organizational structure for the company, with a focus on improving customer service operations and fulfilling the rapidly changing technology needs of the global hospitality industry. He brings to his new corporate sales and operations experience, gained through senior leadership positions in diverse markets across the U.S. During his 27-year career, he also has managed a wide range of hotel properties, from premium-branded, full-service hotels and casino resorts to independent boutique hotels with prestigious groups such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Doubletree. In addition, he has held board of director level positions with various hotel/motel associations and regional Convention and Visitors Bureaus.
Before joining VingCard Elsafe, Oliver was founder and president of Evolve Hospitality Group, a hotel industry consultancy that assisted both global manufacturers and hospitality companies with business development, financial and operational improvements. Prior to that, he spent six years in the electronic locking and security technology industry with Onity Inc., serving as vice president of sales and operations for North America and EMEA, and later as vice president of global sales & marketing. Previous positions include senior management positions with hospitality organizations, such as Noble Investment Group, Winegardner & Hammons, Vista Host Inc. and Peabody Hotel Group.
Oliver holds a B.S. from the University of Florida. He will be based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Richardson, Texas.