Ex-TUI retail chief to join Thomas Cook
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TUI’s former director of retail Kathryn Darbandi (nee Ward) has been named as the UK retail director at rival Thomas Cook.
Darbandi joins Thomas Cook in early April to oversee improving performance in the retail sector in the UK, part of wider transformation plans for the travel company.
She will report to Thomas Cook UK & Ireland managing director Salman Syed, who said: “Kathryn is an accomplished business leader with substantial experience in the sector at a senior level. She is more than accustomed to the fast paced retail environment, and I am confident that the performance of our store network will go from strength to strength under her leadership.”
Darbandi will replace Joanna Wild in the role, who has decided to leave the company. In the interim Thomas Cook’s UK finance director Paul Hemingway will lead the retail team.
Darbandi added: “I am genuinely excited to be taking up the position of retail director of the Thomas Cook and The Co-operative retail network from April 2015. With a passion for both travel and retail, I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the retail arm of the business. I look forward to meeting the team in the near future, and to working with them as they continue to actively contribute towards the ongoing transformation of Thomas Cook UK.”
The appointment is the latest in an expansion for Thomas Cook’s retail team. In December head of retails were named in the north, central and south of the UK as Clive Newton, Jacqui Holt and Torey Kings-Hodkin respectively. All three with report to Darbandi, as will head of retail strategic development Lucy Green; head of FE strategy and development Fraser Miller and head of Freedom and Co-op PTA Kelly Cookes.
“Ensuring that we have the right management structure in place to support the field team, the stores and our affiliated consortia members is vital in this stage of our development,” said Syed. “Kathryn’s appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to the retail operation, which continues to be an integral part of the British high street and a popular way for our customers to book.
Darbandi started her travel career in 1986, rising through the ranks to become TUI UK’s younger shop manager and regional sales manager. She was promoted to sales and operations director for Thomson in 1999, a role she held until 2005. Darbandi was then appointed retail director for Thomson stores in 2005, adding the First Choice shops when the two merged in 2008.
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