Virgin Holidays appoints new MD
Virgin Holidays has promoted customer and sales director Mark Anderson to the role of MD following the departure of Amanda Wills.
Wills announced last month that she was leaving the operator in mid-May to pursue new commercial and charitable opportunities.
Anderson has been with Virgin Holidays since December 2005, when he joined as general manager – service delivery.
He was promoted to customer director in September 2008, before also taking on board-level responsibility for all offline sales channels in May 2013.
Prior to joining Virgin Holidays, Anderson spent several years in senior management, customer service and operational roles with major high street retail brands and in the airport terminal sector.
During his time at Virgin Holidays, he has been credited with the rapid expansion of the operator’s retail channel from 20 to more than 100 outlets in three years and driving innovation and efficiencies in the operator’s customer experience strategy. He also led the delivery of the Airport v-rooms at Gatwick and Manchester and introduced the in-resort concierge services and lounges overseas.
Anderson, who assumes his new position on May 16, said: "Obviously, I have some big shoes to fill and the business will always owe a debt of gratitude to Amanda for the way she transformed it during her time here.
" My first priority will be to reach out to as many people both inside and outside of the business to ensure all of those internal and external relationships and partnerships remain firm, and to invite them in to the conversation about how we will work together to maximize the opportunities ahead."
Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive officer Craig Kreeger added: "Mark is a true commercial customer champion – someone who is able to simultaneously focus on what makes Virgin Holidays a truly great brand, and a successful business.
"He’s also a proven leader who has demonstrated repeatedly at Virgin Holidays that he knows how to get the best out of the people around him. I am delighted to make this appointment and I speak on behalf of the entire leadership team when I say we’re looking forward to working closely with him."
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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