May in it for long-haul at InterArgo

FORMER Hayes and Jarvis managing director Chris May will head up InterArgo Group’s long-haul operations in a bid to turn its recently acquired specialists into market leaders, writes

Juliet Dennis.

The group owns Greece and Cyprus operator Argo Holidays and two long-haul specialists – Jetlife and AsiaWorld/CaribWorld.

May, who left Hayes and Jarvis last June, will be InterArgo Group long-haul managing director across all brands, reporting to group chief financial officer Akis Christoforou.

He will primarily concentrate on the US, Asia and the Caribbean. There are no plans to introduce long-haul destinations to Argo but it has not been ruled out.

May said: “We’re examining how to make the brands stronger to become the number one specialists in their fields. We’re not looking to replicate existing operators.”

He ruled out a worldwide programme but hopes to cash in on a shift away from vertically integrated long-haul brands to the “expertise” of smaller specialists.

Duplication across brands will be reviewed to cut costs. For example, CaribWorld may take over Jetlife’s Caribbean extensions from Florida behind the scenes.