Tom Knopek, former managing director of Dollar Thrifty Europe, has been appointed as group managing director of PPA Group.
Knopek will join the travel and technology specialist on May 1 after 20 years in the car rental industry.
He managed Dollar Thrifty Europe before Hertz acquired the company and was most recently managing director of Hertz’s business to North America. He left the role in January 2015.
Knopek has also spent 10 years at Avis as leisure sales director, nine years as sales director at Forte Hotels and nine years in Spain with the International Leisure Group.
PPA Group chief executive Phil Cook said “We are delighted to announce that Tom Knopek will join us as group managing director.
Tom will bring a lot of valuable management experience and commercial development into the group as we look to further develop our existing business and grow our position in each of the markets we operate in.”
Knopek said “I have known Phil Cook and the company for over 10 years and have always been impressed with the consistency and quality of what PPA stands for.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to manage such a great company and a great team of people. Working with Travel Agents has always been exciting so I am humbled to finally become one.”