Shelton will begin his managing director role at the flight, hotels and car hire comparison and booking platform on October 1 and will report to dnata Travel Europe’s chief executive John Bevan.

Shelton brings more than 20 years’ travel industry experience to Netflights, and took up the role of marketing director at Virgin Holidays in 2006.

Most recently, as managing director of metasearch platform Cheapflights, Shelton oversaw a brand reinvention that “drove significant commercial growth globally” and led to a sale to the Priceline Group in 2017.

Bevan said: “Andrew’s wealth of experience and natural leadership qualities will be a huge asset to us as we enter an exciting new chapter for the Netflights brand, and take it to new markets.

“I’m thrilled he’s joining the team, and look forward to supporting him in the months to come as we continue to realise our UK growth strategy.”

Shelton added: “I’m looking forward to bringing the experience I have had over the last 20 years to the Netflights business and realise the enormous potential within the brand.

“I’m equally excited to be joining the impressive leadership team that John has built across the dnata Travel Europe family, and working with them to grow the group.”

Shelton will split his time across the company’s London and Preston offices, the latter of which will be relocated to new, larger, premises in the city in 2019.