Joe Thompson, currently senior vice president of sales and distribution for Virgin Atlantic, has been appointed as managing director of Virgin Holidays.

He will take up the role with effect July 2017 following parental leave.

Thompson will take over from Mark Anderson, who has been promoted to executive vice president, customer at Virgin Atlantic. 

Anderson’s new role at the airline will focus on customer service, memorable experiences and fun that made Virgin Holidays one of the largest and most respected long-haul tour operators in the UK.

He will be responsible for leading all customer facing teams for Virgin Atlantic.

Until Thompson returns from parental leave, Virgin Holidays will be led by interim managing director Dave Geer, who is currently product, commercial and business development director for Virgin Holidays.

Anderson commented:  “The Virgin Holidays team is the best in the business because we never stop caring about our customers and provide irresistible travel experiences.

“I’m thrilled to now work with a larger team at Virgin Atlantic that offers the same extraordinary experiences to the airline’s customers, knowing that Virgin Holidays is in great hands with Dave Geer and Joe Thompson.”

Under Anderson’s leadership, Virgin Holidays has grown significantly in size and profitability, while helping earn the company the highest customer satisfaction scores in its 32 years in business and reaching an all-time profit high.

He guided the development of new travel products and services and led Virgin Holidays’ successful customer-direct model that helps ensure seamless great service at every point in a customer’s holiday journey.