ITC boss takes up CEO role at Traveltek
Traveltek has announced a replacement for founder and long-serving CEO Kenny Picken, with the role going to ITC Travel Group chief executive Mal Barritt.
Barritt will start at Traveltek in August, after two years at ITC, the company he joined in 2017 as chief operating officer, before becoming chief executive a year ago.
He’s also worked at Destinology, World Travel Holdings, Thomas Cook, MyTravel, and Gold Medal.
Picken announced his decision to leave the business earlier this year.
Traveltek said of Barritt: "He will take the reigns as we look to strengthen our product and service offering and expand into new markets."
The company added: "While still pursuing an ambitious global expansion plan, the focus at HQ is currently on improving its core product, enhancing the service and support offered to clients and on the development of a new, industry-first solution, due to launch later this year; all things which Mal will now take forward."
Barritt said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Traveltek at what is undoubtedly a crucial time in the company’s development. Traveltek is renowned for its product, which revolutionised the way that travel is sold.
"In fact, the platform in itself was one of the main draws for me in taking up the position.
The company managed to capitalise on an early mover advantage and the journey it’s been on since then is extremely impressive. The team that came before me – many of whom are still there – have built up a really strong foundation. The job for me now is to build on that and to help grow the business by bringing this technology to a wider, global audience.
"That said, it’s not only about growth. It’s about improving things for our existing customers too. I’m deeply passionate about service delivery.
"I firmly believe that customers should be at the heart of everything we do. So, one of my key focusses initially will be to ensure that we’re delivering consistently high levels of service and support and on improving the deployment of the product, wherever possible, too. I have a great team around me and I’m really looking forward to taking up the mantle and being part of the company’s next chapter."
Traveltek has undergone a sizeable transformation in the last 12 months, firstly with the appointment of new chief commercial officer, Cressida Sergeant, followed by a new chief operating officer, Phil Astall and new chairman, Chris Noblet.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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