EMPLOYMENT

Chairman, SkiPeople.co - 2020

• Dynamic packaging Ski tour operator.

CEO, Tourhound / TourHub.co - 2019

• Online Aggregator in the multiday Tours and Adventure sector

CEO, Cruise.co.uk - 2004 to 2019

• Led a management buyout/ buy in of a Cruise Travel agency from Carnival Corporation in 2005.
• The business is a Cruise online travel agency which drives most of its business by social selling on Facebook, its own cruise communities/forum and its large collection of user generated content.
• The business has had 3 private equity backers since then, Forward Group, Risk Capital Partners and Bridgepoint who invested in 2016.

Achievements:

• Growing the company from £18m to £220m turnover in 14 years.
• Cross border purchase of German company KFB.
• Delivered a customer repeat rate of 65%.
• The development of the management team and how much the consultants loved their roles.
• Thinking of and executing the whole marketing/company strategy around user generated content.

Managing Director, TV Travelshop - 2002 to 2004

• Television based travel agency, Turnover £180m - part of Interactive Corp/Expedia.
• Interactive Corp purchased TV Travelshop from Barclays Private Equity.
• Managed the merged business into the Expedia organisation.
• Launch of a new bookable website which was a challenge in 2001

Achievements:

• Launched successful new product and revenue channels in a very congested market.
• Launched an internal Tour Operation to increase margins.

Managing Director, Airtours Holidays Ltd - 1993 to 2002

• 2nd Largest Tour Operator in UK at the time, taking over 5 million people on holiday annually.
• Turnover of £1.3bn and a team of 1,600 people.
• Restructuring of the product and commercial teams to create a real commercial focus.
• Empowered the Management teams to drive performance and coached them along the way.
• Business became part of Thomas Cook.

Achievements:

• Maintaining the Airtours brand independence in the Mytravel Group.
• The successful launch of the ski and cruise operations.
• Restructuring of the product and commercial teams to create a real commercial focus.
• Empowered the Management teams to drive performance and coached them along the way.

Earlier roles:

Training and Qualifications

• CIMA Examinations 1991-1993
• BA (HONS) Business Studies 1986-1990 - South Bank Uni.

Interests