A former managing director of Accor Hotels is joining Thomas Cook.
André Witschi, also a previous chairman of the executive board of Steigenberger Hotels, has been named as interim chief of hotels and resorts.
He will help shape and develop the next phase of the travel group’s hotels and resorts business ahead of a permanent appointment, the search for which is underway, the company said.
The restructure of the hotels and resorts management team follows the retirement of Karl Schattmaier, current general manager of hotels and resorts.
Schattmaier will hand over to Witschi in mid-July, but will continue to support Cook as a member of its supervisory board.
The new role will allow greater executive focus not just on hotels and resorts function but on group airlines which will now have a dedicated chief airlines officer in Christoph Debus.
Chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: “André Witschi is one of the most experienced international hotel managers in the industry and will play a key part in setting the direction of our important hotels and resorts function, ahead of a permanent appointment to the role.”