Ex-Thomas Cook CEO Alan French joins travel company Sunweb
Sunweb Group, the European travel company behind brands such as Sunweb and Eliza was here, today announced the appointment of Alan French as Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), effective as of 11th May this year. With French joining the management team, the company strengthens its strategic focus by combining commercial insight with technological expertise.
Alan French is well‑known in the international travel industry. With a proven track record and senior leadership positions at Thomas Cook and eSky Group, he brings extensive experience in digital transformation and commercial strategy. French describes travel as “the most exciting industry to work in”—a passion that continues to drive his work.
In the role of CPTO, French will focus on translating the company’s technology vision into commercial growth at a time when rapid advances in AI, digitization and data‑driven travel solutions are reshaping the sector. At the same time, he will prioritize using technology to further enhance the customer experience, believing that the right balance between technological innovation and commercial focus will be essential to the company’s future success.
Alan French: “The travel industry is evolving at an incredible pace. My ambition is to stay ahead of those technological developments while keeping a strong focus on our commercial goals and delivering the best possible holiday experience for our customers.”
With French on board, Sunweb Group further strengthens its position as an innovative player that views technology not just as support, but as a core driver of future growth.
Lars Löfgren, Interim CEO of Sunweb Group, adds: “Alan knows the travel industry inside out and understands better than anyone how technology and commercial growth reinforce each other. Digitization improves the travel experience—from simplifying the booking process to providing the right information at the right moment. By using data more effectively, we can quickly understand what travelers want and act on it immediately. This enables us to keep innovating while staying focused on what truly matters to our customers, both during the booking journey and at the destination.”
Founded in 1991 in the Netherlands, Sunweb Group is a leading European travel group with an asset‑light business model, welcoming around 1.3 million travelers each year and generating approximately €1.2 billion in annual revenue.
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