Virgin Holidays has promoted customer and sales director Mark Anderson to the role of managing director.
He takes up the position on May 16, when current boss Amanda Wills leaves the business to pursue new opportunities.
Anderson has been with Virgin Holidays since December 2005, when he joined as general manager for service delivery.
He was promoted to customer director in September 2008, before taking on board-level responsibility for all offline sales channels in May 2013.
Before joining Virgin Holidays, Anderson spent several years in senior management, customer service and operational roles with major high street retail brands and in the airport terminal sector.
Anderson is credited with the expansion of the Virgin Holidays retail channel, growing it from 20 to over 100 outlets in three years.
He also led the launch of the Gatwick and Manchester Airport V-rooms and introduced the in-resort concierge services and lounges overseas.
Anderson said: “Virgin Holidays is a leading force in the long-haul travel sector, with an award-winning reputation for innovation and amazing customer service.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to build on that further and lead the business in to an exciting future. In my previous roles here, I’m fortunate enough to have had first-hand experience of the brilliant, passionate and skilful people we have working for us.
“Obviously, I have some big shoes to fill and the business will always owe a debt of gratitude to Amanda for the way she transformed it during her time here.
“My first priority will be to reach out to as many people both inside and outside of the business to ensure all of those internal and external relationships and partnerships remain firm, and to invite them in to the conversation about how we will work together to maximise the opportunities ahead.”
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger said: “Mark is a true commercial customer champion – someone who is able to simultaneously focus on what makes Virgin Holidays a truly great brand, and a successful business.
“He’s also a proven leader who has demonstrated repeatedly at Virgin Holidays that he knows how to get the best out of the people around him.”