Former Meta and Expedia HR leader Rick Kershaw has joined loveholidays as chief people officer.
He moves to the OTA from Facebook’s parent company, where he led HR for the firm’s engineering and technology function in the EMEA region.
He also spent more than five years with Expedia where he was HR director in the EMEA region and later appointed as senior HR and talent acquisition director across a number of Expedia brands.
Kershaw will lead loveholidays’ people function in the newly-created role and spearhead the development and growth of its 250-strong team, with plans to add 70 new staff next year.
Chief executive Donat Retif said: “It’s fantastic to have Rick on board as part of our executive leadership team.
“He has an impressive track record in working with both scaled and scaling businesses to attract and nurture quality talent to support a technology-driven proposition.
“Loveholidays has been on an incredible growth journey over the last ten years and Rick’s appointment demonstrates the commitment we have to our people and our ambition to become Europe’s number one holiday provider with the most-loved package holiday experience.”
Kershaw added: “Behind the remarkable tech proposition at loveholidays, there’s a talented and highly engaged team. I’ve been bowled over already by the positivity that emanates throughout the organisation and the empowerment that its people have to make a difference.
“That’s all supported by strong and progressive leadership and a clear vision for the future of the business. I can’t wait to get stuck in as we continue to grow the team and invest in our people.”