Portman Travel, one of the UK’s leading travel management companies, has appointed Richard Williams as Head of Supplier Relations.

Williams is based at the Chertsey Head Office and will be responsible for overseeing the strategic development and daily management of supplier relations, including airlines, rail, hotels, car rental and other travel related services. Williams will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that Portman’s clients’ needs are fully understood by the supply chain, delivering great value and solutions to the challenges of today’s business travel, whether this be product innovation or sustainable developments.

With fifteen years of experience in the travel industry, Williams brings with him extensive experience in both Operations and Supplier Relations from his previous roles at American Express.

Commenting on his appointment, John Dick, Senior Vice President Operations said: “Richard Williams is an extremely welcome addition to the team and we are confident his proven ability to manage strategic projects, change and supplier relationships will be of great benefit to Portman Travel.”

Richard Williams said: “I look forward to applying the skills I have accumulated during my time in the travel industry to my new role with Portman and contributing to the success of one of the leading TMCs in the UK. It is a great time to come on board with Portman pushing the boundaries and leading the way in customer service and technology. Supplier relations are more important than ever due to the current economic climate and it will be very satisfying to be able to provide value to clients when most needed.”