Johan Lundgren, Carrier and Mercury Holidays: all the latest travel trade people moves

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Johan Lundgren, Carrier and Mercury Holidays: all the latest travel trade people moves

Training

Harry Kemble

2 July 2025

TTG’s weekly round-up of the latest appointments, promotions, restructurings and farewells from across the trade is the definitive digest of the travel trade people moves you need to know about.

People moves July 2 2025 (1) — TTG's weekly people moves digest is published every Wednesday

Moves this week see Johan Lundgren return to a former workplace while three operators – Solmar Villas, Carrier and Mercury Holidays – have all promoted internally to fill senior positions.

Meanwhile, Hays Travel Group’s director of strategy Lisa McAuley will move across the country to become the new boss of World Travel Holdings UK later this year and Fred Olsen Travel has named its new managing director following Steve Williams’ retirement earlier this year.

Elsewhere, Riviera Travel has recruited a new key account manager for the south and south-east of England. Cheryl Elliott-Edwards will support agents in the south and south-east of the country.

So here are the latest major travel trade hires, promotions and job moves over the past few weeks (Wednesday 25 June to Wednesday 2 July).

Have you recently made a new appointment or taken on a new role? Do you have some personnel news for us from your business or organisation? Drop us an email at feedback@flymy.co.uk.

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Tui heralds the return of a familiar face

EasyJet’s former boss Johan Lundgren is to return to Tui as a member of its supervisory board. Lundgren led Tui’s markets and airlines as deputy group chief executive from 2011 to 2015 before departing to become easyJet chief executive from 2017 until the end of last year. Tui will confirm Lundgren as a shareholder representative on the supervisory board at its 2026 annual general meeting. Lundgren replaces Pepijn Rijvers, who has left the brand. Dieter Zetsche, board chair, said: “We are delighted that we have Johan Lundgren, an exceptionally experienced international tourism manager who knows the sector and Tui very well, to succeed him on the supervisory board. “After 10 years, he is now returning to Tui. We are very much looking forward to working with him."

Luxury tailor-made op names new operations chief

Carrier has promoted Deborah Matthews as the new head of reservations and operations following the retirement of previous incumbent Julie Barker after 23 years at the company. Matthews, who has 28 years’ travel industry experience, currently serves as senior reservations and service manager and has worked closely with Barker. In 1981, Barker began her travel career at Thomas Cook Business Travel, holding roles from shop manager to regional trainer and auditor over 21 years. She later joined Carrier and set up the administration and operations team, later manager the Europe and North Africa reservations team. In 2009, she was promoted to head of reservations and operations – a role she held for nearly 16 years. Natasha Towey, Carrier managing director, said: “Julie has been a cornerstone of Carrier, profoundly influencing and shaping our business into the successful entity it is today. Her unwavering pursuit of excellence has embedded a culture of high standards and dedication within the company, and it is this legacy that she leaves behind. Julie’s impact and personality will be dearly missed. We are incredibly grateful for Julie’s years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement.”

New general manager appointed at villas specialist

Solmar Villas has named Sharon Bradbury as its new general manager following the passing of the company’s former managing director, Julie Blake, earlier this year. Reporting to Dertour UK chief executive Francis Torrilla, Bradbury has been promoted into the new role from her previous position as sales and marketing director, where she was responsible for driving the company’s commercial performance overseeing brand development, customer acquisition and distribution. Bradbury joined Solmar in March 2023 having started her commercial career in travel with Crystal ski and over the next seven years evolved her career within the Tui specialist division before moving to a role with Hidden Croatia and subsequently marketing roles in the finance sector and as a consultant. Torrilla said: “Sharon has an outstanding track record in the travel industry, and I’m delighted that we are able to grow our leadership team from talent within the business.” Bradbury added: “I’m honoured to step into this new role. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working for some exceptional companies, but my time at Solmar has been the most rewarding. That’s largely down to the incredible team we have: they are passionate, committed and always striving to exceed expectations.”

Leading travel agency finally names new boss

World Travel Holdings UK, which operates cruise specialist brands Cruise118.com, SixStarCruises and RiverVoyages, has appointed Lisa McAuley as managing director. McAuley will succeed outgoing managing director Alison Earnshaw from 1 October 2025, with Earnshaw continuing in the role until then. Prior to her most recent role of Hays Travel group strategy director, McAuley held senior positions at dnata and Silversea. She joined Hays in 2021 as a non-executive director before becoming the group’s director of strategy in July 2023. “Lisa’s extensive background in the cruise industry, along with her strategic insight and proven success, will enhance our already outstanding team and propel WTH UK forward,” said Jeff Tolkin, co-chair and chief executive of World Tavel Holdings, WTH UK’s parent company. “Her professional expertise is matched by her collaborative nature, genuine demeanour and straightforward approach, making her an excellent fit for our UK organisation.” McAuley will be based at the WTH UK office in Chorley and will lead a team of directors there.

Fred Olsen Travel appoints Steve Williams’ successor

Fred Olsen Travel has named Julie Berry as managing director Steve Williams’ successor following his retirement earlier this year. The agency chain said Berry, who spent the first 20 years of her career in travel with Thomas Cook, brought "a wealth of industry experience" to the role and "a clear vision for the future of the business". Prior to joining Fred Olsen Travel in the spring, Berry spent six years providing consultancy services across a range of sectors, including to travel and tourism-adjacent operations. Berry entered travel via Cook’s graduate scheme in the late 1990s and went on to hold senior roles within tour operating, commercial, cruise, customer experience and transformation. She takes over from acting managing director Sam Stimpson, chief executive of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Mercury Holidays promotes chief financial officer to chief executive

Kent-based Mercury Holidays has promoted chief financial officer Irina Ropotan to the role of chief executive. Ropotan has been with the company with 17 years and, according to Mercury, “brings a wealth of experience across all aspects of the operations to her new role”. She hopes to help the operator transition from traditional beach offerings towards “high-quality, good-value escorted, private and solo tours”. She added: “I’m excited to step into this new role. Mercury Holidays is one of the UK’s most successful independent travel businesses, and I look forward to working with the board and fantastic wider team to continue to develop our product offering whilst continuing to maintain our high standards of customer service and excellence.”

Escorted touring op and river line bolsters trade team

Riviera Travel has appointed Cheryl Elliott-Edwards as key account manager for the south and south-east. She joins with more than 25 years’ travel industry experience including five as key account manager at Emirates, as well as time spent running her own travel business. She said: “The buzz around the company and its rapid expansion speak volumes, and I’m looking forward to being part of a team that’s clearly going places. Riviera’s commitment to delivering great experiences and genuine support for the trade really aligns with everything I care about in this industry.”