Former Brittany Ferries group commercial director Mike Bevens has joined travel guide and website Sawday’s as managing director.
He has assumed the day-to-day running of the Bristol-based business from Toby Sawday, son of founder Alastair Sawday.
Toby Sawday will remain as a board director of the company which lists places to stay in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Sawday’s recently released a newly-designed website and is set to announce a move to an employee ownership model.
Bevens has worked in travel throughout his 30-year career, starting his own travel business at the age of 23, which he sold six years later.
He has since held positions at several leading tour operators and has also spent time in travel publishing.
Bevens said: “I’m delighted to be joining Sawday’s. It’s a business I have followed and admired for many years, not only for the special and unique places we offer but as a company which does things in a refreshingly different way.”
Alastair Sawday said: “Brittany Ferries is owned by a group of Breton farmers – so Mike’s new role fits him like a glove.
“The move to the employee ownership trust is a bold and exciting one that will help Sawday’s hold on to its ‘specialness’.
“We intend to continue putting human beings first, and I remain in the background to support Mike and the employees as much as they need me. Sawday’s has a bright future.”