Combined Honours degree in Education and English Literature

Management of highly successful team of African specialist company after long standing founders departure. Led the team to full integration within the Western & Oriental portfolio of companies including office location move.

Operational responsibility for all Exsus sales with primary mandate to reduce back office costs and overall responsibility for establishing supplier invoicing and verification systems · Operations oversight for all back office contracting and supplier systems · Member of the Exsus Executive Management team - Budgeting and overall business strategy out to one year horizon - Executive decision making forum including HR, policy and investment decisions - Business tracking and performance analysis Achievements · Numerous cost reduction projects completed including - Rationalisation back office sales systems - Recognised cost savings in back office processing amounting to more than £100,000 - Wholesale rationalization of debtors list (90% reduction)

Headed up and developed the Africa, Indian Ocean and Dubai programme from scratch as previously the company only covered Latin America, Caribbean and Boutique Europe. Promoted to General Manager. Undertook all ticketing protocols and managed the Iata stream.Proactively approached Exsus Travel (bespoke high end niche tour operator) with a strategy to set up and develop new bespoke Africa programme for luxury product portfolio · Singly responsible for Africa product initiation and product build out - Oversight for all commercial activities including contracting with all suppliers, pricing and margin management, budget forecasting and P&L management - Developed and executed life cycle product strategy - Design and structuring of product, brochure and website · Full operational and financial responsibility for ongoing management of established product - Management of full product budget, including marketing and promotion - Performance management against business targets - Line responsibility/broader senior management responsibilities within Exsus · Responsibility for full product marketing strategy, budget and execution - Product launches, including main product launch at Royal Geographic Society - PR and journalist educational visits/editorials including FT "How To Spend It" - Joint venture initiatives with suppliers for location and packaged promotions Achievements · From no product to second highest revenue Exsus product in one year (~£1m sales in 2005) · Negotiated full, multi-million dollar network of suppliers, agents and ground handlers · Set up back office support infrastructure to streamline admin functions · Recruited staff requirements and grew to a team of four

Developed and contracted the first Long Haul product for this multi-national operator. Headed up and ran this Africa product controlling a team of six. Co-ordinated the launch and marketing of the new product and facilitated the exposure to ensure the growth of this product.Planning, design, launch, implementation and ongoing management of Bridge's South Africa product · Sourcing all suppliers and negotiated commercial terms in UK and South Africa · Responsible for distribution strategy and execution to over 700 retail agent outlets - Commercial negotiations, marketing and creative input, product design - Developing business plan for retail agent rack space and allocation - Devising incentive compensation for agent commissions and referalls · Full operational and financial responsibility for ongoing management of product - Executing in-house brochure production including sourcing (circulation ~250,000 copies) - Management of full product budget, including marketing and promotion - Performance management against business targets - Line responsibility/broader senior management responsibilities within Bridge Achievements · Lead supplier for 2004 South Africa Toursism "Sunsation" Marketing campaign · Nominated for South African Airways new Africa product for bookings growth in 2003 · Secured promotional funding from external tourist agencies and suppliers including South Africa Tourism and Sun International (total of ~£100k) · Fully systemized booking and fare procedures

Sold Bespoke holidays and travel arrangements to UK clients to travel to Africa and Indian Ocean. Broad sales and marketing role for bespoke Southern African luxury Tour Operator · Responsible for promotion and marketing of Okavango products · Business segmentation & strategic analysis · Day to day responsibility for client and supplier management - Itinerary planning and programme design direct with individual clients - Negotiation with suppliers, originated IT fares contract with SAA