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Graham Balmforth announces retirement
Super Break national sales manager Graham Balmforth is to retire at end of January 2018 after 23 years with the company and 40 in the indusrtry.
The operator said Balmforth has been pivotal in driving the trade arm of the business. It is now looking for a replacement.
Balmforth said: "It’s time for me to step down and enjoy a different slant on life. I am really looking forward to having more time with my wife and family, including my two beautiful granddaughters. I will of course miss the craic and banter of fellow industry friends and colleagues and the occasional stage performance!
"I am leaving behind a great team at Super Break, a bond that you only get from making something special together. I will miss the togetherness that comes with sharing triumphs and frustrations, and the best set of business development managers I have had the pleasure to manage."
Jacqui Rigby, chief operating officer at Super Break, said "Graham is a tour de force and has been instrumental in our trade business, leading an outstanding team. His passion, ability to light up a room with laughter and extremely generous nature will be very much missed by Super Break and the industry.
"We wish Graham a very enjoyable retirement with his family, Super Break is now actively recruiting for someone to take on this exciting role within a growing business."
Balmforth was chairman of TIPTO from 2008-2010, vice chairman of the ABTA UK Tourism Group 2005-2016, host of The Travel Brit Awards for the last 11 years and host of The SPAA Awards for the last three years.
He was also much loved for his 14 years of dressing up at the Advantage Travel Partnership conference Dine a Rounds.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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