NEWS 1


YOU NEED TO KNOW


Iain Andrew: ‘Staff have reaffirmed commitment to the group’


AT A GLANCE Dnata’s UK story so far


l Dnata acquires Travel Republic in late 2011 for an undisclosed sum.


l In 2014, dnata agrees to buy Gold Medal from Thomas Cook for £45 million.


l Later that year, dnata signs an agreement to acquire Stella Travel Services, which included Travel 2, The Global Travel Group, Travelbag, Sunmaster and Triton Rooms.


Dnata boss vows to invest after five shock defections


Lucy Huxley lucy.huxley@travelweekly.co.uk


Dnata Travel has reassured agents that “nothing is on hold” following the sudden departure of five senior managers from the Gold Medal and Travel 2 owner.


Managing director Andy Freeth, sales director Gordon McCreadie, product and commercial director Matt Appleby, head of sales Tracy Hirsz and business manager David Irving shocked the industry last week by quitting dnata to join rival long-haul operator If Only. Dnata Travel senior divisional


vice-president Iain Andrew said: “I have inherited a very clear direction and way forward for the UK business and, if anything, we will continue to look at investing more.


“We need to continue looking


after our agents and customers, broadening our product range, keeping our standards high and investing in our software.” Andrew rebutted rumours


Travel 2’s Glasgowofficewould be closed. And he said he hoped staff would not be tempted to follow the five executives to If Only,which aims to recruit 40 employees in its offices near Glasgow. “There has been some concern


about Glasgow,” he said. “People have been putting two and two together [because If Only is based in the same city], and getting five. We have no plans to consolidate our Glasgow and Preston locations. We will continue to look after our staff.” Andrew said he had received support from staff across the company, adding: “They expressed


4 travelweekly.co.uk 15 June 2017


“We need to continue looking after our agents and customers and broaden our range”


their surprise at the departures of the senior team, but also their commitment to the group.” Directors and managers had


“stepped up” to reassure agents, he said, adding that the “vast majority” of agents were “not nervous” about dnata Travel’s future. “Our teams have done an


incredible job reassuring agents,” said Andrew. “They have great relationships and have spoken to as many as they can. “It’s a difficult time but it’s been


heartwarming to get such support. “The team has a great plan in


l Last week, five directors and managers quit to join trade-only operator If Only: managing director Andy Freeth, sales and marketing director Gordon McCreadie, product and commercial director Matt Appleby, head of sales Tracy Hirsz and Travel 2 business manager David Irving.


l If Only founder Brendan Maguire says he aims to make the operator ‘one of the big boys’ after making the appointments.


place that is allowing us to make the right decision [on the future senior management], instead of a snap decision.” Internal and external candidates


are being considered for the roles, but Andrew revealed recent exits could enable him to restructure. Former Gold Medal boss Steve


Barrass, who has been working for dnata Travel in Dubai for two years, was a late addition to the ITT Conference delegate list in Italy this week, fuelling rumours he could become managing director. “We needed to make sure a


senior representative from dnata was at the event,” said Andrew. “But Steve being [in Sorrento]


doesn’t mean a decision has been made. We are genuinely looking at people inside and outside the group.”


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