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New ABTA chairman appointed
Alistair Rowland has been appointed the new chairman of ABTA, replacing Noel Josephides, who has stepped down at the end of his six-year tenure.
The chief retail officer of Midcounties Co-operative was elected at the association’s AGM on Wednesday and takes up his position with immediate effect.
He has served on the ABTA Board of Directors for the last seven years representing retail members with a turnover of over £20 million.
Rowland has worked at Midcounties Co-operative for almost eight years, He was promoted to chief retail officer – special business in April, after serving as group general manager – special retail, since 2016.
He’s also held a number of other positions within the group, including the Co-operative’s group general manager for travel services; group director of distribution for Co-operative Travel Group and group managing director for Future Travel and the Freedom Travel Group.
In addition, he spent over two years at First Choice Holidays, where he was director of retail development, and, in his early career, held managerial positions at Dixons and Currys.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "Alistair has served with distinction on our Board of Directors and his expertise, professionalism and enthusiasm will be invaluable in our ongoing work to support our members and their customers as well as helping to deliver ABTA’s business plan.
"I would also like to extend our warmest thanks to outgoing chairman Noel Josephides for the exceptional contribution he has made to the sssociation throughout his six years in office."
Rowland said: "I look forward immensely to taking on my new role as chairman of the UK’s leading travel association.
"Now, more than ever, it is vital that we have an association that represents the voice of the industry, supports the needs of its members and helps their customers to feel confident in travelling.
"The association has made strong progress under chief executive Mark Tanzer and the chairmanship of my predecessor Noel Josephides and I’m keen to further build on that good work."
Daniele Broccoli of Britaly Travel and Jamie Gardiner of Diverse World Ltd were both re-elected to the board.
Richard Downs, CEO of Iglu.com, steps down having completed his term of office.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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