Jonn Bevan returns to UK as dnata Travel chief executive
Former lastminute.com UK vice president John Bevan has been appointed chief executive of dnata Travel B2B Europe, the parent company of Gold Medal and Travel 2.
It will see Bevan returning to the UK from Florida, where he is managing director of SpaFinder, a company he joined in 2013. He was previously MD of Voyage Prive and prior to that he was project director of Traveldealsdirect.
From 2004 to 2008, Bevan was managing director consumer brands and vice president at lastminute.com UK.
He has also held non-executive director roles at several UK travel companies and he was a director of the Institute of Travel and Tourism from 2012 to 2014 and sat on the ABTA board from 2006 to 2008.
His appointment by dnata follows the defection of five senior executives, including managing director Andy Freeth, to rival operator If Only.
He will join former lastminute.com colleague Andy Washington, who is chief executive of dnata Travel B2C Europe, and report to divisional senior vice-president Iain Andrew, who is based in Dubai.
Bevan will start his new role on November 1. He said: "I am looking forward to joining the company at such an exciting time.
"Dnata has made no secret of the opportunities available to expand its B2B offering in Europe. It is a real privilege to take the helm and drive this business forward."
Dnata Travel Europe has also appointed Attraction World sales and marketing director Nick~Hughes as B2B sales director, starting on November 27.
He will lead the sales team, supported by Colin Currie and Karen Fletcher.
The new appointments follow former Gold Medal chief executive Steve Barrass’s appointment as dnata senior vice-president new ventures Europe.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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