Former dnata UK and Ireland chief Ailsa Pollard to join Newmarket Holidays board
James ChappleGold Medal parent dnata’s former UK and Europe chief, Ailsa Pollard, will join the board of Newmarket Holidays following fresh private equity investment in the escorted touring specialist.
Pollard, who left dnata last year and currently sits on Abta’s board, will take up a non-executive director role with Newmarket following an undisclosed investment in the operator from Soho Square Capital.
Also joining the board as chair is Geoff Parkin, whom Newmarket said would bring "a wealth of travel and consumer sector experience" from his role as a senior partner at L.E.K Consulting, and Soho Square director David Steel.
Surrey-based Newmarket’s current owners – co-founders Jeremy Griffin and Toni Frei, managing director Simon Hibbs and chief executive Niel Alobaidi – will remain as majority shareholders.
"We were attracted by Soho Square’s flexible approach to structuring investments, providing us with capital and expertise, while enabling us to stay in control of the business that we have put so much work into over the years," said Alobaidi.
"Myself, my leadership team and our shareholders are all excited to get to work with our new partners to accelerate our growth plans and continue Newmarket Holidays’ positive trajectory."
Soho Square’s Steel added: "With rapid growth, expanding margins and a very loyal customer base, Newmarket Holidays is going from strength to strength, and we are excited to be joining them on this journey.
"Supported by a strong and experienced management team, Niel has driven improvements in product, technology, branding and processes. This has been reflected in the impressive level of customers booking with Newmarket both via its new website and from within its loyal customer base.
"With our support and fresh perspective, we’re confident that we can help Newmarket Holidays to realise new opportunities and deliver considerable growth.”
Newmarket was founded by Griffin and Frei in 1983, with Hibbs joining as MD in 1984. Alobaidi joined the business in 2019 and in 2022 made his own investment in the business, becoming Newmarket’s first new shareholder for nearly 40 years in the process.
It recently named Titan Travel head of trade Hayley Morris as its new head of trade sales and partnerships. Morris will succeed Richard Forde, who is leaving the business after 15 years to take a career break.
In turn, Titan on Friday (4 October) appointed former Virgin Voyages vice-president of international sales Shane Lewis-Riley to a newly created director of trade distribution role with the escorted touring specialist.
The CAA this week disclosed new Atol authorisations for autumn-renewing Atol holders, including Newmarket Holidays, which has slightly reduced its Atol for the 12 months to the end of September 2025 from 45,881 to 44,055 (-4%).
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