A-Rosa has expanded its sales team with two new appointments and opened its first UK office.
Hugh Clayson has been appointed commercial manager with immediate effect and Simon McDermott will take up the role of business development manager for the north on May 1.
The appointments take the UK sales team up to five.
Clayson will focus on sales development, market analysis, agent and operator contracts and commercial projects.
McDermott will train agents on A-Rosa products and how it can be booked in the UK.
Clayson previously worked for Pandaw Cruises until April 2017 and has been consulting for various travel companies since. McDermott joins from Veranda and Heritage Resorts Mauritius.
Stefan Trottnow will join the UK team in May as a cruise consultant, moving from the head quarters in Rostock where he worked in the customer service and reservations department.
He will be the first point of call in the office and provide daily support for agents and operators and support the business development managers.
The line is still in the process of recruiting a business development manager for the south region and a marketing team is expected to be set-up later in the year.
The appointments coincide with the opening of A-Rosa’s UK sales and marketing office in Cardiff, the first to open outside of Germany.
Rowe said: “I am delighted to welcome Hugh and Simon into the A-Rosa family. Hugh has such an in-depth knowledge of both the tour operating and cruise markets and his commercial and marketing experience will be invaluable in helping A-Rosa expand its trade partnerships and network.
“Simon is well known with agents and he will be out and about as yet another brand ambassador flying the A-Rosa flag. He will be meeting with agents regularly and educating them about all the things the line has to offer.
“(The UK office) is such an exciting milestone for us. It shows our determination and loyalty to the UK market and despite the current uncertainty, we are still totally committed to growing here. Since we entered the UK market four years ago we have seen interest and demand grow and opening our first UK office in Cardiff gives a real home to our international brand. We look forward to welcoming many of our partners and agents.”