A former Delta Air Lines executive is to lead the senior leadership teams from both Protravel and Tzell on both sides of the Atlantic.
Gail Grimmett was named as president of the combined US operations for Protravel and Tzell in May and is now taking the helm of umbrella brand Travel Leaders UK.
She previously served as Delta’s senior vice president, global New York, where she had financial and commercial responsibility for the airline’s domestic and international performance.
Additionally, industry veteran Ade Taiwo, previously with The Appointment Group, has been named financial controller for Travel Leaders UK.
Grimmett was introduced to the respective Protravel UK and Tzell UK teams during a visit to the London offices last month to meet Travel Leaders UK managing director Tina Rose and executive director of business development and acquisitions Barry Whittaker.
“Among all the various segments that have contributed to the remarkable growth of Travel Leaders Group, along with Protravel UK and Tzell UK in particular, none have been more intrinsic to their success than serving the vast and varying high-touch travel needs of the entertainment industry, followed closely by providing luxury leisure expertise to discerning clientele,” Grimmett said.
“I am thrilled to be leading the growing operation here in the UK, which has risen to number 24 among the yop 50 leading TMCs in the UK and is poised for further accelerated increases.”
She added: “After years of working with both Protravel and Tzell from the supplier side and recognising how each of them have earned their places as the agencies of choice for the most discerning and elite clientele, it’s an incredible honour to be joining these two distinguished teams both in the UK and the US.
“We look forward to working together to take Travel Leaders UK, our agents and our valued customers to new heights.”
Protravel and Tzell have together grown to an annual turnover of more than £2.8 billion worldwide, largely through focusing on the entertainment industry, other high-touch corporate clientele and the luxury leisure sector.