Der Touristik UK’s new interim chief executive Francis Torrilla has reassured the trade it is “business as usual” following the departure of Derek Jones.
Jones has left the pan-European business – Der Touristik Group is the travel division of the Rewe Group – after more than a decade at the helm.
His departure was said to be amicable from the group, which comprises tour operating brands in the UK including Kuoni, Kirker Holidays, Carrier, CV Villas, Journey Latin America and Voyages Jules Verne, based across London and Dorking, as well as 27 Kuoni high-street shops.
Jones, who joined in 2009 and became UK chief executive in 2011, said he was now taking some time off with his family before deciding his next career move. He remains chairman of travel industry charity Abta LifeLine.
Torrilla, managing director of specialist businesses, has taken on the role of UK chief executive on an interim basis, reporting into Leif Vase Larsen, chief executive of Der Touristik Northern Europe. He has been with the business since 1998, when he started as head of product before working in a variety of different roles including operations director and managing director of Carrier.
He said: “I have had a very good working relationship with Derek over the many years he has been at Kuoni but now it’s very much business as usual.
“The business is in a good position and to some extent it is a case of following on what Derek and the team had in place. I am looking forward to driving the business forward until a permanent chief executive is announced.”
Ensuring staff morale was high was also important, he added, and staff have been asked to submit any questions to Torrilla. “It’s very important staff feel they have someone who is leading them that they can trust,” he added.