Global travel management specialist FCm Travel Solutions has outlined plans to focus its search for growth in 2012 on Africa and the Middle. With a new global sales director also joining the brand, FCm has a lot on the agenda.

Leading corporate travel specialist FCm Travel Solutions has flagged Africa and the Middle East as major growth regions for the next 12 months. FCm global leader Gregory Lording said strategic expansion, predominantly through its licensee network, would allow the company to capture growth in the corporate travel market in the regions and boost capabilities for its existing clients.

“FCm has partnered with local agencies in six African countries and we are currently looking at a number of other partnership opportunities to strengthen our presence and offering in that segment of the market,” Lording explained. “Our expansion into Africa will leverage the benefits of increasing commercial engagement with Africa from corporate clients from places such as Australia, Middle East and the US. Australia now has more than 220 mining and resource companies working on projects across an estimated 42 African countries, according to recent government reports.”

Lording continued: “FCm has long been a specialist in corporate travel management for the mining and resources sector and we view Africa as a region of high business potential and growth for our global business.”

He went on to explain FCm’s interest in the Middle East was on the back of the business’s success in the region, which was significantly boosted in 2007 when FCm’s parent company, Flight Centre, opened a company-owned office in Dubai. FCm currently operates offices in more than eight locations across the Middle East with plans in the pipeline for further growth in the region in 2012. Lording added that on the table for FCm was an aggressive two-to-three year expansion plan, which would see the company potentially grow network coverage to over 100 countries.

Global Sales Director

FCm Travel Solutions – recognised as the World’s Leading Travel Management Company by the World Travel Awards - has further strengthened its global leadership team with the appointment of Alex Armstrong to the role of global director of sales.

Armstrong, who is based in FCm’s regional head office in London, assumed the position February 1st, following more than three years as head of sales for FCm’s operation in the United Kingdom. As part of his new role, he will continue to lead FCm’s UK sales division and will be focused on strategy development for FCm’s global sales team. Alex will also oversee the global coordination and management of FCm’s multinational sales pipeline.

Working closely with FCm’s sales leaders for Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), North America, Latin America (LATAM) and Caribbean regions, Armstrong will also be focusing on strengthening the company’s global sales platform to increase consistency and enable new multinational business growth across the global network. He said he was thrilled to be adding more of a global focus to his existing role in the UK.

“This is an exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to be taking more of a hands-on role in the future development of FCm’s global sales capabilities and direction,” he said. “FCm is extremely well placed to secure key multinational business in the mid to large market and be a leading force in winning blue-chip multinational and local business. We have an incredible sales force globally and I’m very pleased to be leading this team and look forward to using my role to help grow the FCm brand globally.”