As the Commercial Director at Real Response Media, I lead the charge in driving sales and commercial success across our dynamic Cruising division. With a blend of digital innovation and traditional media expertise, I’m dedicated to expanding our footprint in the B2B and B2C cruise sector.My role centers on developing and executing strategic commercial plans that foster business growth and create new revenue streams. I thrive on understanding partner needs and crafting inventive… Show more As the Commercial Director at Real Response Media, I lead the charge in driving sales and commercial success across our dynamic Cruising division. With a blend of digital innovation and traditional media expertise, I’m dedicated to expanding our footprint in the B2B and B2C cruise sector.My role centers on developing and executing strategic commercial plans that foster business growth and create new revenue streams. I thrive on understanding partner needs and crafting inventive solutions in collaboration with our Marketing team to deliver exceptional commercial packages. My expertise extends to monetising site traffic, generating leads, and enhancing advertising opportunities to maximize revenue for our portfolio of digital and print media.Leading a talented team of Commercial Managers, I am passionate about forging new partnerships, retaining key clients, and expanding our network both within and beyond the cruise sector.At Real Response Media, we’re redefining the cruise media landscape with our flagship brands—Cruise Trade News and World of Cruising. Our mission is to provide unparalleled marketing solutions and deliver high-value leads, ensuring our partners’ success in a competitive market.Key strengths include:- Innovative Strategy Development: Crafting forward-thinking commercial plans that drive growth.- Digital & Print Media Expertise: Leveraging both platforms to maximize revenue and engagement.- Leadership & Team Development: Empowering and mentoring a high-performing sales team.- Client Relationship Management: Building and sustaining meaningful partnerships.If you’re interested in exploring strategic opportunities or discussing the latest trends in digital and print media within the cruise and aviation sectors, let’s connect! Show less

Core focus, to lead and empower the Media & Partnerships team to actively sell and promote the full range of media solutions to our network of travel partners, including hotels, tourism boards and attraction providers. Identify and develop external partnerships, expanding our portfolio through differentiated initiatives - setting and exceeding revenue & margin targets through proactive partnerships, innovative marketing campaigns and product optimisation. Lead on ad-hoc… Show more Core focus, to lead and empower the Media & Partnerships team to actively sell and promote the full range of media solutions to our network of travel partners, including hotels, tourism boards and attraction providers. Identify and develop external partnerships, expanding our portfolio through differentiated initiatives - setting and exceeding revenue & margin targets through proactive partnerships, innovative marketing campaigns and product optimisation. Lead on ad-hoc, strategic and fundamental change projects and business development initiatives, focusing on ecommerce solutions and new product launches within the digital marketing environment. Show less

Supporting SMEs and travel organisations, providing reliable back-up for their business.Services include; Project Management, Strategy planning, Product Marketing, Troubleshooting, General Management, Reporting and Analysis, Supplier and Partnership Management and New Product Delivery. Travel Industry and digital specialist (20+ years).

Fixed term Contract (Cover) – 6 months. Overall responsibility for the P&L of the Travel Partnership proposition for all titles - setting and managing budgets, forecasts and contribution. Delivered a strategy for the digital Travel proposition, introducing relevant new products and services both for print and digital.Overall responsibility for partnership contract negotiations, third party providers and reviews.Setting of department KPI’s. Analytical… Show more Fixed term Contract (Cover) – 6 months. Overall responsibility for the P&L of the Travel Partnership proposition for all titles - setting and managing budgets, forecasts and contribution. Delivered a strategy for the digital Travel proposition, introducing relevant new products and services both for print and digital.Overall responsibility for partnership contract negotiations, third party providers and reviews.Setting of department KPI’s. Analytical reporting and analysis - implementing change based on performance.Worked alongside Commercial, Editorial and Marketing, to drive customer acquisition and retention. Show less

This was a varied role, taking on a vast array of new business initiates and strategic projects for which I was responsible for the direction, enhancement and financial performance. This included defining the strategy and plotting the roadmap for each, working collaboratively, across functions and in conjunction with internal and external stakeholders. I worked on many projects during this time, including several high profile initiatives;- Responsibility for the company’s drive into… Show more This was a varied role, taking on a vast array of new business initiates and strategic projects for which I was responsible for the direction, enhancement and financial performance. This included defining the strategy and plotting the roadmap for each, working collaboratively, across functions and in conjunction with internal and external stakeholders. I worked on many projects during this time, including several high profile initiatives;- Responsibility for the company’s drive into Long Haul. Defined strategy and managed execution. - Established and maintained a 3rd party relationship to monetise long haul organic searches (outside of our desired product offering), through exiting traffic. This delivered c4m TTV across the partnership term (2 years), £2m net profit (rev share).- Led project to optimise on-site product and content for organic long haul (charter served) destinations, delivering 157% increase in both revenue and net margin.- Ultimate responsibility for OTB’s product re-launch into Dubai and the Indian Ocean, increasing passenger volumes by 370%, revenue by 420% and earnings per search by 146%- Delivery of the NDC airline connection to British Airways and the UK's first direct integration with Emirates. - Established and set up commercial agreements with Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airlines - pending integration. - Set-up and daily management of the In-House Flying programme (exclusive seat stock on core routes) – in partnership with Small Planet Airlines. Released +30k seats into the open market, across 12 destinations, with 6 rotations per week (peak periods). Show less

Two (sometimes more) ‘hats’…Being a young ‘lean’ organisation in rapid growth, I found myself in a trusted position, essentially the ‘go to’ person for ad hoc projects, strategic initiatives and troubleshooting exercises. With transfers needing some TLC, I inherited the function to overhaul and develop. This was ultimately the start of my career transition into product and project management. With overall responsibility for the resort transfer business, my role essentially… Show more Two (sometimes more) ‘hats’…Being a young ‘lean’ organisation in rapid growth, I found myself in a trusted position, essentially the ‘go to’ person for ad hoc projects, strategic initiatives and troubleshooting exercises. With transfers needing some TLC, I inherited the function to overhaul and develop. This was ultimately the start of my career transition into product and project management. With overall responsibility for the resort transfer business, my role essentially pulled together interacting functions, overseeing the operation from front end to in-resort. Still wearing my ‘Digital Marketing’ cap, I continued to manage the Partner acquisition programmes, as detailed in previous role. With affiliates in a good place, core focus was more on optimising high traffic partner sites such as TripAdvisor, Travel Supermarket and Trivago.- Management of 3rd party bed and transfer supply, focusing on expansion and optimisation of our product portfolio.- Interim ‘Head of Supply’, managing a team of 5 contract loaders. - Increased transfer business by 16% to £3.4 million in the first year following platform migration (from 3rd party to in-house), c£5m in year two, as a result of further site integration (flight and hotel only booking paths).- Secured exclusive override agreements with suppliers, generating £400k net revenue in FY 13.- Optimised performance, increasing onsite ‘take-up’, from 50% to 75% through site enhancements, product mapping and margin optimisation. - Built 'in-resort' campaign, utilising transfer suppliers presence to leverage our brand (busses, check-in desks etc). - Worked alongside other marketing functions to deliver a cross channel, multi attribution model, demonstrating the true value of partner channels such as TripAdvisor – resulting in 135% increase in ROI,10% conversion growth and 28% CPA reduction.- Worked with and oversaw, the development of a bespoke API, allowing for Inclusion in the Trip Advisor META engine. Show less

Management of the Affiliate and Partner acquisition programmes, including strategy, optimisation and general marketing duties. Set up of the Meta partner programmes, managed and tracked in-house, with data syndicated to channels through XML / API. Affiliates operated through a network. This role was as much about delivering incrementality and efficiency, and it was sales.Key Responsibilities and Achievements- Along with a 3rd party, delivered a custom built… Show more Management of the Affiliate and Partner acquisition programmes, including strategy, optimisation and general marketing duties. Set up of the Meta partner programmes, managed and tracked in-house, with data syndicated to channels through XML / API. Affiliates operated through a network. This role was as much about delivering incrementality and efficiency, and it was sales.Key Responsibilities and Achievements- Along with a 3rd party, delivered a custom built attribution model, allowing the business to reward each channel fairly according to its contribution, thus reducing acquisition costs. The tool also allowed us to bid efficiently through placement auctions and reduce cannibalisation from incentive based websites.- Achieved success through analysing the true value of each affiliate type and their interaction with other channels, exposing true incrementality. - Once in place, the new model had an immediate impact on voucher sites, lowering their score, resulting in a 30% reduction in spend, of which some was reinvested straight away into placements on high value websites.- Traffic increased 37% - despite attribution scoring and absence of voucher code advertising. Quality of sales improved significantly +10% ABV and the percentage of active affiliates increased by 20%.- Management of key meta partners Including TripAdvisor (review and meta site), Travel Supermarket (holiday meta), Cheap Flights (flight meta), and Trivago (hotel meta). Show less

Responsible for the running and optimisation of the networks’ key travel accounts in the North of England. Providing assistance, consultation, guidance and strategy to help businesses grow their affiliate programme. Key Responsibilities- 16 different accounts, including Jet2.com/Jet2Holidays, LateRooms, On the Beach and Avis.- Delivered campaigns designed to recruit and retain different affiliate types. - Worked with publishers to optimise their sites and… Show more Responsible for the running and optimisation of the networks’ key travel accounts in the North of England. Providing assistance, consultation, guidance and strategy to help businesses grow their affiliate programme. Key Responsibilities- 16 different accounts, including Jet2.com/Jet2Holidays, LateRooms, On the Beach and Avis.- Delivered campaigns designed to recruit and retain different affiliate types. - Worked with publishers to optimise their sites and affiliate offering – ultimately increasing sales. - Collaboration with the technical support teams to successfully integrate programs and ensure efficient, reliable tracking in place. - Administrative duties including such as account documentation, reporting, sales approval. - Created and delivered reports to key publishers and affiliates, with analytical commentary and suggestions for optimisation. - Attended client and networking events to aid client relationship development.- Worked with publishers to create content and sales tools to help drive sales. Show less

Delivery of affiliate strategy fully aligned to business and marketing objectives. Launch and maintenance of the programme, contributing to 20% of online sales (from 0%).

Responsible for the launch, development and maintenance of affiliate programmes for 14 group websites, including Airtours, MyTravel.com, Direct Holidays, Panorama and Manos, collectively contributing to 16% of online sales. .

This position was a re-deployment/temporary secondment, whilst in consultation, following the closure of Lateescapesauctions.com. Launch and project management of the groups’ first Affiliate programme - Goingplaces.co.uk. General marketing and commercial duties.

Planning, development and management of the auction product and operation to meet financial and quality performance targets, whilst adhering to budget restrictions. Management of the Support, Sales and Product teams, to constantly drive a higher performance website and deliver a high standard of customer service

Supporting the auction product by strategic loading and analysis of stock, sourcing and briefing of promotions and outbound email campaigns, liaising with tour operators to promote the site as an effective means of sales and maintenance of website information