ABTA has appointed a head of public affairs and a head of destination strategy and services both of whom will join ABTA’s management team.
These appointments follow a restructuring which took place earlier this year when ABTA head of development Andy Cooper left to join Thomas Cook.
Luke Pollard, who will take up the role of head of public affairs in December, is currently an account director with public affairs company Edelman, where he worked on the Thomas Cook account.
Nikki White will be joining ABTA as head of destination strategy and services on September 28 from marketing experts Fox Kalomaski. She has worked with a number of destinations as well as specialist agents, tour operators and airlines devising a range of strategic policies. She has also completion the Forum for the Future’s Masters degree in Sustainable Development.
Mr Pollard said: “Through the work I’ve done for Thomas Cook and the FTO in the past I know what an exciting sector travel is to work in and just how pressing many of its public affairs challenges are.
ABTA’s investment in public affairs makes this role an exciting opportunity to really showcase the best of the sector’s thinking and ensure that travel receives the recognition it deserves by Westminster and Brussels.”
Nikki White said: “I’m delighted to join such a strong team at ABTA and one that is committed to building expertise in crucial areas such as sustainability. These are challenging times and I am keen to ensure that we provide leadership and insight on these key issues for our members”.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “We are delighted to welcome two such exceptional individuals to the ABTA team. With the benefit of their expertise and leadership ABTA’s operational and lobbying abilities will go from strength to strength”