Matthew Forbes has joined Wings Global Travel as senior vice president of global growth after 17 years in similar roles at rival TMC Reed & Mackay.
He reports to Wings chief operating officer Gary Povey, who also moved from Reed & Mackay in 2023.
Forbes will be responsible for managing the Wings global sales team, mentoring regional sales managers and developing the company’s professional services business.
Emphasising that Wings business development strategy would focus on customer service, value and delivery “not growth at any cost”, he said: “We’re seeing massive industry consolidation, a race for market share and rapid adoption of new technology.
“What attracted me to Wings is that the company has seen more than three decades of strong growth without losing sight of the importance of close relationships and dedicated personal service. This client-first ethos is becoming rarer and rarer among TMCs.”
Forbes will work alongside Wings’ tech and product teams to oversee ongoing development of the TMC’s unified global service platform.
“Clients want choice, value, efficiency and ultra-responsive service. Our technology development is solely focused on delivering a consistently great experience for travellers and travel managers wherever they are in the world,” he added.
Povey said: “Matt brings a wealth of global experience to the Wings team, having lived and worked in some our key markets including the USA, UAE, Australia, Singapore and United Kingdom.
“The Wings board is delighted that Matt has agreed to join us to develop the global sales strategy.”