Adrian James Promoted To B2b Commercial Director, Dnata Travel Group (Uk)

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2022 0

Internal promotion for previous Head of B2B Sales Centre and member of dnata’s Executive Leadership Development Programme

Adrian James has been promoted the position of Commercial Director for dnata Travel Group’s UK B2B brands – Gold Medal, Pure Luxury, Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys.

James has been a part of the dnata Travel Group family since 2014, and for the last six years has headed up its UK B2B Sales Centre. In his new role, he will build and lead a team whose remit will span all dnata Travel Group’s UK B2B brands with a focus on long term profitable growth. James will sit across all B2B budgeting and forecasting, pricing, new investment across brand and product, and ensuring brand and commercial partnership agreements support the broader trade-only strategy. He will work closely with Gold Medal Managing Director, Simon Applebaum, and the other directors as they continue to lead the B2B business back to post-pandemic profitability.

James is a member of dnata’s global Executive Leadership Development Programme, which is designed to nurture the next generation of the organisation’s leaders and help them to develop the skills they will need to support the delivery of dnata Travel Group’s vision to ‘reconnect a better world’. He’s also currently studying for a post-graduate degree in Organisational Leadership at Warwick University’s Business School.

Applebaum comments: “I’m delighted to see Adrian promoted to the role of Commercial Director. He is widely respected across the UK organisation and his understanding of the group and the opportunities for us are exceptional. It is especially pleasing to see the investment we make in developing our future leaders pay off. It proves that dnata really is an organisation where the sky’s the limit.

“Investing in an enhanced commercial function will help us to accelerate the growth of our B2B brands, and give us the bandwidth to pursue more of the opportunities in front of us. Adrian will be recruiting imminently to build the team, but the work starts immediately as we look ahead to 2023.”

James said: “I’m really looking forward to this new challenge. Although all travel brands face some difficult headwinds, we’re confident about the future and I am looking forward to working with my fellow B2B directors and partners across the industry to help us maximise the opportunities.

“dnata has been very supportive in helping me enhance my skills and build a rewarding career. Being able to apply those to this new role, and to grow an effective team to help us deliver on our commercial potential, really excites me.”