The Spear Travels Group has appointed Julie Kendrick to the new role of group commercial and marketing manager.
The former Midcounties Co-operative Travel head of commercial and marketing starts at the 12-branch travel agency chain on January 8.
She will be based at the company’s Wolverhampton store, where its marketing team is based, and report into group operations director Trevor Davis.
Group managing director Peter Cookson said the move would allow Davis to focus on the looking at growth opportunities to take on new high-street shops.
Kendrick left Midcounties in August after 21 years with Co-operative Travel Trading Group.
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Cookson said: “I am delighted Julie is joining our team as we plan for growth in 2020 and beyond. Julie brings a wealth of industry experience and I know how well respected Julie is. She will focus on strengthening and improving our commercial terms with key tour operator partners in addition building stronger marketing relationship.
“We are an ambitious business and we will continue to seek growth opportunities. Bringing Julie on board to focus on our tour operator relationships and our marketing strategy will allow Trevor more time to focus on the day to day operational issues whilst exploring opportunities for high street expansion and growth of our home-based ‘Associates’ division.
“We continue to receive regular approaches from agency owners looking to sell their business and, as we would like to grow our network in our existing trading areas, Trevor can devote more of his time to this.”
The group employs more than 85 staff and has branches in north Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset, Essex and the West Midlands. It also trades under the Broads Travel brand in Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and manages a nationwide network of home-based Associate agents.