PORT Philip Group has appointed sales director Sandra Leach to the position of deputy managing director.
Leach, 38, started working for the operator as a travel consultant in the early 1980s before rising to the post of sales director, a position she held for nine years.
In her new role, she will report to managing director Andrew Bathe and be responsible for overseeing sales, product and operations and systems functions in the UK, Germany and the US.
Leach said her first aim will be to use the millennium to continue the growth for Australasia.
“The last few years have seen tremendous growth for Port Philip Group as consumer awareness for Australia and Zealand continues to increase,” she said.
“I am keen to ensure we remain proactive within this specialist area and want to play a part in developing this potential as we enter the new millennium.”
Leach said she will look for innovative enhancements to its sales and reservations systems including exploiting the Internet.
But in line with the focus of parent Thomson, Leach stressed her major task will be ensure the company remains profitable.
Leach takes up her new role with immediate effect.