Virgin Voyages, Travelopia, Panache Cruises: this week’s travel trade people moves

Travelopia has confirmed a raft of senior leadership changes following a review of its brand portfolio, a move that will see it seek to offload Citalia, Sovereign and American Holidays. Andrew White (pictured), president of Travelopia's Quark Expeditions brand, will retire at the end of the year. He will be succeeded by Exodus Group managing director Sam Seward, with Sally Cowdry stepping up to lead at Exodus. Cowdry will also retain her role as Travelopia's chief customer officer. Paul Brousseau, meanwhile, will take up a newly created chief sales officer role with Travelopia, reporting into Cowdry. He will also continue in his role as Quark's chief customer officer.

After head of international sales Shane Lewis-Riley headed for Titan Travel, Virgin Voyages has also bid farewell to UK senior sales manager Mark Lowman. TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus Lowman, who joined Virgin Voyages from Princess Cruises early last year, confirmed his departure after 18 months in a post to LinkedIn. "It’s been an absolute pleasure to work for such a game-changing, innovative brand," he said. Lowman also paid tribute to the line's "simply phenomenal" sales team and thanked them for their "support, teamwork and friendship". He is now seeking "new and exciting challenges". TTG has approached Virgin Voyages for comment.

Carnival Cruise Lines has hired IHG's Peter Clarke as its chief operations officer. Clarke, who was IHG Hotels and Resorts vice-president of luxury and lifestyle hotel operations for the Americas, has previously held like roles with brands including Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels and Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts. Carnival president Christine Duffy praised Clarke's experience managing "the many complexities" of the hotel sector across multiple properties and brands, and building and maintaining strong company culture. Clarke added: "Joining the cruise industry leader at a time of significant growth and innovation is a very exciting opportunity."

Ramble Worldwide has appointed former Shearings Holidays managing director Jane Atkins to a non-executive director role on its board. The walking specialist said Atkins' extensive experience of travel trade distribution would support its new distribution strategy as the brand seeks to target more agents, homeworkers and potential partners. Atkins said she was looking forward to using her experience "to forge closer ties with agents". Ramble managing director Wayne Perks said Atkins' appointment would prove "invaluable" as the brand seeks to expand and develop new audiences.

Exodus Travels' senior product manager for Africa and the Americas, Elaine Learmonth, is set to join Flight Centre UK as its new leisure product lead. Learmonth started her career in travel with Tui and went on to work in Cape Town focusing on tailor-made safari trips. She returned to the UK to take up a product and operations manager role with Unforgettable Travel Company before joining Exodus. She will bring more than 20 years' industry experience to her new position, which will see her take responsibility for Flight Centre's UK product strategy and aligning it with the agency's aim to increase land, cruising and touring sales.