The newly-merged company TUI Travel has announced the senior management team for its mainstream businesses for the UK and Ireland.
UK and Ireland managing director is Dermot Blastland, formerly of First Choice mainstream. He reports to Peter Rothwell, deputy chief exexcutive of the combined business.
The new UK and Ireland board is made up of senior staff from both the First Choice and TUI businesses in the UK and will be responsible for integrating the two companies, their strategies and future business plans.
Former TUI UK sales director Derek Jones becomes responsible for distribution in the UK, and Nick Longman, previously managing director of First Choice distribution, will join the board and take responsibility for integrating the two businesses, a task expected to last at least 12 months.
Chris Browne, former managing director of First Choice Airways, will be responsible for the airline across the UK business.
Other board members include David Burling, former TUI UK commercial director, who will head up tour operations Graham Donoghue, previously TUI UK new media director, who will head up new media and David Harper, former TUI UK overseas director, who takes responsibility for overseas business.
Former First Choice mainstream tour operations managing director Neil Morris is now responsible for planning Keith Neman, former IT director for TUI UK, takes charge of IT Jacky Simmonds, former HR director for First Choice mainstream holidays, heads up HR and David Taylor, previously TUI Travel finance director, heads up finance on the UK board.
Meanwhile, former managing director of Thomsonfly Colin Mitchell will support Browne to help migrate the airlines on to Thomsonfly’s air operating certificate, but is not on the board. It is not yet known if he will stay with the business long term.
Meanwhile, the company has also announced that Damien Mooney will continue in his role of managing director of TUI Travel’s Ireland business, reporting directly into Blastland and Nick Fisk, formerly TUI UK HR director, becomes HR director for the UK and Ireland airline.