YouTravel former sales and marketing director Paul Riches is to join international holiday home specialist Interhome as commercial director in October.
Interhome's Swiss-based parent said it needed an experienced commercial director to achieve its ambitions for growth in the UK and Ireland markets.
Riches added: "Interhome is very well established within Europe and is now looking to grow its presence in the UK and Ireland through the travel trade.
"We have a unique product offering that I believe will sell well through both online and retail trade distribution channels. In the next few months we will be looking to make the range of holiday homes and apartments available through as many channels as possible."
He said agents would be offered "very competition commission", plus a range of special deals to encourage them to work with Interhome.
Riches left YouTravel last July, having grown the business from start up to a €114m turnover in five years. He was previously sales and marketing director of Libra Holidays and Sky and he held the same position at Cosmos Holidays, which he left in 2001, and sales director of Panorama Holiday Group until 1998.
Interhome country manager Benelux, United Kingdom and Ireland Hans Schenk said: "I am pleased that Paul Riches will join our team in the United Kingdom. With his experience and knowledge, we see lots of possibilities to fulfill our potential market size for vacation rentals and grow the current Interhome market from the UK and Ireland."
By Linsey McNeill
