Fred Holidays has appointed Dave Chidley to the new role of agency sales manager.
Chidley joins from Uniworld where he was national sales manager and will start on April 18.
Geoff Ridgeon, Fred Olsen Travel’s head of cruise, said Chidley will strengthen relationships between agents and Fred Holidays products which include Victory Cruise Lines, Pullmantur Cruises and its European land holiday business.
He said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Dave to Fred.\ Holidays and as an industry favourite, he will drive the European tailormade specialist and GSA operator further into the forefront of our trade partner’s minds.
“Relationships and sales from the trade have grown considerably over the past 12 months and this appointment will enable even more focus, training and collaboration with agents as we take the business on to the next level of growth.”
Ridgeon confirmed Chidley would work alongside Fred Holidays’ sales manager Lawrence Peachey.
Uniworld’s UK managing director Chris Townson thanked Chidley for helping establish the line as the “leading luxury river cruise brand in the UK”.
The luxury line said it would announce Chidley’s replacement in “due course”.
Townson said: “Personally, and on behalf of the whole Uniworld family, I would like to thank Dave for all that he has done to establish Uniworld as the leading luxury river cruise brand here in the UK over the last few years, for helping to deliver our recent suite of award wins, and for bringing our new venture, U by Uniworld, to market.
“Dave has been working to ensure a seamless transition for the team and our travel agent partners, and in due course we will be in a position to announce a replacement to lead our sales team forward at this ground-breaking time for the business. We wish Dave all the very best with the next stage of his career journey.”