A travel background is not the main priority for the next head of the Guild of Travel Management Companies.
Instead, the organisation is looking for a candidate with a background of senior leadership to replace outgoing chief executive Anne Godfrey, who is leaving after nearly three years to become chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
GTMC chairman Ajaya Sodha said: “The GTMC has stepped up its lobbying in recent years and we are keen to appoint someone who will continue the activity, manage the expectations of key business leaders and politicians and have excellent influencing and relationship management skills.
“The successful candidate will not necessarily have a travel background but a track record of senior leadership is crucial.”
Sodha was speaking as the guild appointed Munro Consulting to handle the recruitment process. Final interviews are expected to be held in September.
Munro Consulting director Ken Dalgleish said: “We are looking forward to having in-depth conversations with potential candidates. This role is a brilliant opportunity to work at a senior level with leaders who are top of their game in an exciting and important industry.”