Dnata Travel Group has been promote Karen Fletcher to the position of trade partnerships director, reporting to managing director Simon Applebaum.
She will lead a trade team of 20 spread across the UK from dnata Travel Group’s UK headquarters in Lancashire, supporting agents working with B2B brands that include Gold Medal, Pure Luxury, Incredible Journeys and Cruise Plus.
Fletcher will effectively replace Nick Hughes, who became Princess Cruises’ sales director for UK and Europe on October 17.
Fletcher joined Gold Medal in 1996, working in the brand’s call centre which was then located in Blackpool – and marked her 26th anniversary three days ago.
She progressed to agency sales and wholesale manager then head of trade support, with responsibility for Gold Medal’s agent incentive scheme Farebank, negotiating commercial agreements with trade partners, organising and hosting agent fam trips and events, brochure distribution and support of the Trade Partnership Managers (TPM) field team.
Applebaum said: “Karen’s appointment is another great example of how we develop talent and provide opportunities for career progression.
“She knows our business inside out, and it’s fantastic to have her as part of our leadership team.
“Her knowledge of our trade partnership network and familiarity with the needs of our valued agent partners across the UK can only be a good thing for them, and she’s extremely well known and highly respected across the industry.”
Fletcher said: “I’ve been with this company virtually my whole working life, so of course I’m very excited to apply all the experience and knowledge I’ve gained in that time to this new challenge.
“I know our TPMs and industry partners well, and already have some exciting ideas for how we can deepen those relationships further and make the most of the opportunities ahead. I can’t wait to get out on the road to start make those ideas a reality – especially with peaks just around the corner.”