ABTA has made two new senior appointments, Head of Public Affairs and Head of Destination Strategy and Services both of whom will join ABTA’s management team. These appointments to key positions follow a restructuring which took place earlier this year.

Luke Pollard will take up the role of Head of Public Affairs, strengthening ABTA’s increasingly important lobbying activity. Currently an Account Director with leading Public Affairs company Edelman, Luke worked on the Thomas Cook account and has gained invaluable experience leading campaigns in Westminster and Brussels.

Nikki White will be joining ABTA as Head of Destination Strategy and Services. Nikki has gained an impressive grasp of travel and tourism strategy over her years as Head of Strategy and Development at travel and leisure Marketing experts Fox Kalomaski. Here she worked with a number of destinations as well as specialist agents, tour operators and airlines devising a range of strategic policies. Nikki’s expertise in sustainable tourism has recently been enhanced by her completion of Forum for the Future’s Masters degree in Sustainable Development.

Mr Pollard commented on his appointment: “Through the work I’ve done for Thomas Cook and the FTO in the past I know what an exciting sector travel is to work in and just how pressing many of its public affairs challenges are. ABTA’s investment in public affairs makes this role an exciting opportunity to really showcase the best of the sector’s thinking and ensure that travel receives the recognition it deserves by Westminster and Brussels.”

Ms White said: “I'm delighted to join such a strong team at ABTA and one that is committed to building expertise in crucial areas such as sustainability. These are challenging times and I am keen to ensure that we provide leadership and insight on these key issues for our Members”.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to welcome two such exceptional individuals to the ABTA team. With the benefit of their expertise and leadership ABTA’s operational and lobbying abilities will go from strength to strength”.