Virgin appoints new MD
Virgin Holidays has appointed a new managing director after promoting Mark Anderson to executive vice president, customer at Virgin Atlantic.
Joe Thompson, currently senior VP of sales and distribution at the airline, will take up the role of MD of the tour operator in July following parental leave.
In the meantime, Virgin Holidays will the headed by interim MD Dave Geer, currently product, commercial and business development director for the operator.
The airiine said Anderson’s new role would focus on ‘customer service, memorable experiences and fun that made Virgin Holidays one of the largest and most respected long-haul operators in the UK’.
He will be responsible for leading all customer facing teams for Virgin Atlantic.
"I’m thrilled to now work with a larger team at Virgin Atlantic that offers the same extraordinary experiences to the airline’s customers, knowing that Virgin Holidays is in great hands with Dave Geer and Joe Thompson," he said.
Thompson has been with Virgin Atlantic for 14 years, working in leadership positions across commercial and customer service-focused functions.
"I’m delighted to be taking over from Mark as managing director," he said. "I’ve worked closely with the great team at Virgin Holidays in my time with Virgin Atlantic and I’m really looking forward to building on the many successes achieved under Mark’s leadership".
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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025