New directors join expanding travel group

Sep 12 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

INDEPENDENT holiday business Hays Travel has appointed four new directors as it continues to concentrate on its expansion plans and bed in two recently-launched divisions.

Nick Coates has joined the Sunderland-based company as sales and commercial director of Hays Faraway, a new, wholly-owned subsidiary that concentrates on luxury travel.

He came to Hays from high-end tour operator Audley Travel, which he was instrumental in setting up.

“The intention is to create a compelling saleable product, which will be made exclusive to Hays Travel and Independence Group travel agents throughout the UK,” he said.

“Initially, we will look to feature Dubai and the Indian Ocean and then look to expand to the Far East and beyond over the course of 2009.”

Another newly created, wholly owned subsidiary of the £350m turnover group, Hays Beds Ltd, has appointed Nigel Hebron as its finance and commercial director. It supplies hotel and apartment accommodation to other parts of the group.

Mr Hebron, who previously worked for Huntsman Chemicals as financial controller for Europe, said: “The opportunity to establish and develop a new business division represents a huge but very rewarding challenge for the business and for me personally.”

The business, which is the UK’s largest independently-owned travel agency has also appointed a new director to head up web and direct marketing.

Charlie Bateson, the former marketing director at Trailfinders, said: “In today’s difficult trading conditions I think that it’s very reassuring to find a company with such aggressive expansion plans, but this just underlines the clarity of vision and confidence that John and the rest of the board obtain.”

The final new directorship is an internal promotion for Sue Jarvis, who takes up the reins as finance and operations director of Hays Foreign Exchange Ltd. She has been with the company for six years, previously working in the commercial department before moving to the foreign exchange team.

Andrea Kendal has also been promoted from commercial manager to head of cruise, with responsibility for cruise sales across the group.

Hays Travel was set up by John Hays in 1980 and in 1997, 37% of the company was bought by First Choice. It returned to independent control last year when Mr Hays bought back shares worth £3m from the FTSE-listed company.

The business has 34 shops in the North East, three call centres and employs more than 300 homeworkers.