Home » News » Industry movements: Lisa Farrugia returns to Wendy Wu, FCM’s new sustainability lead and more

6 September, 2022

Industry movements: Lisa Farrugia returns to Wendy Wu, FCM’s new sustainability lead and more

By Alexandra Coulton

It’s been another bumper week for industry appointments and promotions! Here’s your cheat sheet for the new who’s who.

Lisa Farrugia re-joins Wendy Wu Tours

Wendy Wu Tours has welcomed back Lisa Farrugia to the new role of state account manager for NSW, ACT and WA.

Farrugia brings to the role over 10 years of experience in business development in the travel industry.

On her re-appointment, Lisa said, “I’m thrilled to rejoin Wendy Wu Tours, after the most challenging three years in the industry, and am excited to be back doing what I love, supporting our trade partners and travel agents, helping them rebuild their business with WWT into the future.”

Glenn Thorsen to lead new sustainability practice at FCM Consulting

FCM Consulting has boosted its capabilities to help clients address their environmental aims with the appointment of Glenn Thorsen as sustainability lead.

Denmark-based Thorsen begins his new position in early September and strengthens a highly skilled global team of subject-matter experts spanning key areas such as travel sourcing, program optimisation, payment solutions, and more, who apply their considerable know-how advising clients from small enterprises through to global corporations.

Previously head of partnerships for Thrust Carbon, Thorsen is a well-known and respective figure across the global sustainability community where he drove awareness and adoption of the emissions intelligence platform across the corporate travel industry.

Big Red Group appoints chief technology officer to lead digital transformation

Big Red Group has appointed Brent Rutherford to the newly created role of chief technology officer, to lead the organisation through its next phase of growth – powered by first-party data and a technological transformation across the brands.

Rutherford’s role will be focused on creating a technology-first environment that supports business goals, and building a platform that delivers an end-to-end customer and supplier experience to match the incredible experiences the company offers.

With diverse experience in both technology and business roles, Rutherford’s background includes helping scale technology and business operations in large yet rapidly growing companies such as Dell and Apple, and has also held senior roles in technology solutions companies.

With a customer-first approach, Rutherford is passionate about creating moments for customers that go beyond their expectations.

Entire expands Canada team with latest appointment

Entire Travel Group has expanded its Canada and Alaska team with the appointment of Zoe Condon as its new travel and product advisor.

Since entering the travel industry in 2012, Condon has established herself as a leading specialist in Canada and Alaska, as well as international rail.

During her career she has held specialist roles with Infinity Holidays, Rail Plus and most recently, Rocky Mountaineer, where she spent four years as a Vacations Consultant.

Condon’s experience also includes three years living in Canada, where she was based in Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, Kitchener in Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta’s largest city and home of the Calgary Stampede.

Travellers Choice network expands

This month Travellers Choice is welcoming new arrivals, with the additions of Port Maquarie based How We Travel, owned by Lauren Howard (featured image) and Vicky Johnston’s (pictured above) Midland Travel to its network.

Travellers Choice’s general manager of sales, Nicola Strudwick said that by allowing independent businesses to choose the level of support they require, the group’s three new membership packages are helping drive post-pandemic growth.

“Independent businesses need to be flexible and adaptable in the current operating environment, and our new membership packages allow them to be just that.”

CWT announces new customer-focused Center of Excellence led by Maura Geertsma

CWT has announced a newly formalized Center of Excellence, dedicated to strengthening end-to-end customer experiences, satisfaction and retention, led by travel industry veteran, Maura Geertsma, who joined CWT during the summer.

A 25-year travel industry veteran, business development specialist, and transformational life coach, Geertsma has held senior leadership positions in various travel operations, including BCD Travel, Gopass Global, and Partnership Travel Consulting.

She held an advisory role with ACTE (the Association of Corporate Travel Executives), was a sustainability committee advisor to GBTA (the Global Business Travel Association), and is a former managing director of cloud sales, service & marketing specialist, Destined.

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