The Association of British Travel Agents today (22 June 2005) announced the
appointment of Mark Tanzer as its new Chief Executive. He will take up the
position at the end of August.
Mr Tanzer, 44, an English scholar from Cambridge University, completed an
MBA at Harvard University, and joins ABTA having served as a Senior Director
for Change and Reform at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and
Director of Corporate Development at Centrica plc.

Mr Tanzer’s career at the Centrica Group dates from 1997, where he was
Development Director for the AA (Automobile Association) and implemented a
complete review of corporate strategy and managed the successful sale and
de-mutualisation of the AA. He then became a Director of Group Strategy
before moving into Corporate Development responsible for communicating a
corporate-wide change programme.

Mr Tanzer lives with his partner in Brenchley in Kent. His first job was
working for his family’s printing business. He has also worked as a Strategy
Consultant in a number of countries in various publishing roles, and has
spent some time in retail marketing. While studying for his MBA he lived in
Boston for two years. An enthusiastic traveller, he speaks French, Italian
and Spanish.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Tanzer said he was pleased to be joining
ABTA during a period of change. He said: “I am delighted to be joining ABTA
at an important moment in its history. Change is an important part of any
organisation’s development and an effective trade organisation must
anticipate the future of the industry and the needs of its members.”

Welcoming Mr Tanzer, ABTA President, Martin Wellings said: “When Ian
Reynolds arrived at ABTA in 1994 he brought with him a lot of experience
from outside travel that we benefited from. The same will be true of Mark
Tanzer, whose combined experience of change management in corporate life and
retail practice make a great combination that will benefit both ABTA and its
members.”
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