Ex-Thomas Cook long haul chiefs join Kuoni

Joanna Edmunds and Manuel Mascarehas, both formerly with Thomas Cook Signature, have joined Kuoni UK as part of a shake-up at the operator.

They join as the company creates two new divisions – one covering commercial and the other sales.

The previous roles of product director and sales and marketing director have ceased to exist. This has meant the departure of product director Mark Robson with immediate effect. 

Current sales and marketing director Mark Lawrence has agreed to remain with the business until the end of June as a senior advisor, to help with the transition and with several key projects that are on-going, Kuoni said.

Edmunds is to head the commercial division, taking responsibility for the areas of product, marketing and e-business. She joins as commercial director on March 3. 

Mascarenhas becomes sales director from February 11 heading the sales division, including Kuoni’s call centre, agency sales and retail.

Managing director Nick Hughes said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the appointments of two such well-respected figures in the industry. 

“When I was appointed as MD in July 2007, it was with the remit to reinvigorate Kuoni’s business and positioning in the UK. 

“Following extensive customer research and based on an in-depth business plan, our vision is to become the UK’s leading provider of upmarket, tailor made holidays. 

“In order to deliver this vision, we are putting into place an extensive restructure, with the merging of product, marketing and e-business, and the creation of a dedicated sales division.

“This new structure will ensure complete integration of product and marketing. It will also create an effective sales division, which we believe will be able to serve our agents and customers needs in the most efficient and targeted way, with all the expertise, knowledge and service for which Kuoni is renowned. 

“Joanna is a well regarded industry professional and represents a significant addition to our UK board. She brings with her strong and relevant experience across all three areas of product, marketing and e-business, having recently held the position of managing director of Thomas Cook Signature.

“In addition, she has held a number of other senior roles within the industry, including an interim role as product and marketing director at Accoladia, managing director of Magic Travel, and development director for Thomson International.

“Manuel has a proven track record of driving impressive revenue growth through all the key sales channels and is well-known and respected across the travel industry. He has held various senior sales-related roles including sales & marketing director at Thomas Cook Signature, director online marketing at TC.com, director of sales at Thomson Holidays, and UK leisure sales manager retail at British Airways.”

by Phil Davies