Virgin Atlantic recruits Anthony Uphill as sales vice-president

Virgin Atlantic has appointed Anthony Uphill as sales vice-president, responsible for the airline’s sales performance, with direct accountability for corporate and agency sales.

He joins the airline on May 5, taking on a role previously filled by Luke Goggin, who departed last October.

Uphill will work closely with joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM, while exploring new revenue growth opportunities with SkyTeam and other partner airlines.

His experience includes senior commercial sales roles with two major international airlines, plus leadership positions at Amex Global Business Travel and, most recently, Amex Travel.

At Amex Travel, he held commercial responsibility for the international airline partner portfolio, driving strategic revenue growth and delivering enhanced value and exclusive benefits for American Express’s premium Card Members.

More: Virgin Atlantic sales chief Luke Goggin to leave business

Uphill said: “I have long admired Virgin Atlantic and I’m delighted to be taking on this pivotal role at such an exciting time for the business.

“The airline has a powerful brand, a differentiated premium proposition and strong global partnerships, which together create significant opportunity in the corporate and agency space.

“I’m looking forward to working with our talented sales teams and our joint venture and SkyTeam partners to drive sustainable revenue growth, deepen our strategic relationships and deliver exceptional value for our customers worldwide.”

Dave Geer, chief commercial officer, said: “Anthony brings a wealth of global commercial experience and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of corporate and agency customers.

“His track record of building high-performing teams and driving strategic revenue growth makes him the ideal leader to take our B2B sales organisation into its next phase.

“As we continue to strengthen our partnerships across our joint venture and the wider SkyTeam alliance, Anthony’s expertise will be instrumental in accelerating performance and unlocking new growth opportunities across our global network.”