Directline Holidays appoints Andy Claridge as Director of Sales and Operations
Online travel specialist directline holidays (www.directline-holidays.co.uk) has appointed Andy Claridge as Director of Sales and Operations.
Bringing twenty years of travel and retail industry experience, Claridge will oversee directline holidays’ sales and operations staff of 70 based in Croydon. He will be responsible for developing the travel agent’s online portfolio of affordable holidays. Formerly Operations, Purchasing and Product Director with Global Travel Group, Claridge has also held senior and board level positions with other travel companies including Cosmos and The Magic Travel Group.
Maria Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer of directline holidays said: “Andy’s skills in growing client bases combined with his board-level experience of delivering successful operational and sales strategies means that we can look forward to further increasing our visitor numbers, sales turnover and net profit.”
directline holidays was founded in 1992 and since 2001 has been focused entirely online, now attracting over 2 million visitors each month to its group of websites. A sector leader, directline holidays sales and net profits have grown 50% year on year, from £40m in 2008 to £58m in 2009.