A woman has been appointed as Tui Group chief financial officer.
Belgian Birgit Conix will succeed Horst Baier when he steps down from the role in the autumn after 22 years with the travel giant.
Conix is joining Tui from her current role as CFO of the Belgian media and telecommunications group Telenet.
She will become a member of the Tui executive board from July 15 and work with Baier until she succeeds him as CFO for a three-year term.
Tui’s future executive board will comprise six managers of German, British and Belgian nationalities.
When Conix takes over as finance chief, two of six executive board members will be female.
Tui Group supervisory board chairman Klaus Mangold said: “With Birgit Conix, we have recruited an international top manager as CFO for our group.
“With her international background and comprehensive experience from various sectors and companies, she will be a great asset to Tui.
“I am sure that Birgit Conix will further expand Tui’s excellent reputation among investors and in the financial market in collaboration with the current executive board and Tui’s employees.”
He added: “I would like to thank Mr Baier very warmly for his excellent performance and his commitment to Tui. In his more than ten years as executive board member, he has played a crucial role in transforming the former Preussag into the world leader in tourism.
“Mr Baier was a key figure with a strategic vision and the strength to see it through to operational implementation during the merger of Tui Travel PLC and Tui AG.
“Mr Baier has been instrumental in shaping Tui and as a leadership personality with skill and expertise he is a role model for many.”