In this section
Group Management Board
Peter Long
Chief Executive
(Age 56)
Peter Long joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. In November 1996 he was appointed Group Managing Director of First Choice Holidays PLC and became Chief Executive in September 1999. Prior to joining First Choice, he was Chief Executive of Sunworld Holidays, having previously been Finance Director then Chief Executive of the tour operating division of the International Leisure Group.
In October 2002 Peter was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Rentokil Initial plc and joined the board of Debenhams PLC as a Non-Executive Director in May 2006. He was a Non-Executive Director of RAC plc (formerly Lex Service Plc) from February 2001 to June 2005.
Chief Executive
(Age 56)
Peter Long joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. In November 1996 he was appointed Group Managing Director of First Choice Holidays PLC and became Chief Executive in September 1999. Prior to joining First Choice, he was Chief Executive of Sunworld Holidays, having previously been Finance Director then Chief Executive of the tour operating division of the International Leisure Group.
In October 2002 Peter was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Rentokil Initial plc and joined the board of Debenhams PLC as a Non-Executive Director in May 2006. He was a Non-Executive Director of RAC plc (formerly Lex Service Plc) from February 2001 to June 2005.
Paul Bowtell
Chief Financial Officer
(Age 40)
Paul Bowtell joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. He was appointed to the Board of First Choice Holidays PLC in September 2004 as Group Finance Director and was previously the Finance Director of British Gas, a subsidiary of Centrica plc, where he had been since January 2002. Prior to that, he was with
W H Smith plc where he held a number of corporate centre roles before becoming the Finance Director of the UK Retail business. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. In November 2007 Paul was appointed a Non-Executive Director of SThree PLC.
Chief Financial Officer
(Age 40)
Paul Bowtell joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. He was appointed to the Board of First Choice Holidays PLC in September 2004 as Group Finance Director and was previously the Finance Director of British Gas, a subsidiary of Centrica plc, where he had been since January 2002. Prior to that, he was with
W H Smith plc where he held a number of corporate centre roles before becoming the Finance Director of the UK Retail business. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. In November 2007 Paul was appointed a Non-Executive Director of SThree PLC.
Dr. Volker Böttcher
Managing Director, Central Europe
(Age 49)
After an early career in law, Volker joined Touristik Union International in 1987 as a legal advisor. Having occupied various management positions, he became head of TUI's Special Programmes Division in 1996 which included responsibility for long-haul destinations, city tours and the Eastern Mediterranean. In 2003 Volker was appointed Chairman for Central Europe for TUI AG, being responsible for all tourism activities in the source markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. He was appointed to the board of TUI Deutschland GmbH in April 2000. Following the restructuring of TUI's business model in Germany, he was appointed CEO of TUI Deutschland GmbH in July 2001. Volker joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 19 June 2007.
Managing Director, Central Europe
(Age 49)
After an early career in law, Volker joined Touristik Union International in 1987 as a legal advisor. Having occupied various management positions, he became head of TUI's Special Programmes Division in 1996 which included responsibility for long-haul destinations, city tours and the Eastern Mediterranean. In 2003 Volker was appointed Chairman for Central Europe for TUI AG, being responsible for all tourism activities in the source markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. He was appointed to the board of TUI Deutschland GmbH in April 2000. Following the restructuring of TUI's business model in Germany, he was appointed CEO of TUI Deutschland GmbH in July 2001. Volker joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 19 June 2007.
William Waggott
Commercial Director
(Age 46)
William Waggott joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. He spent the early part of his career with Coopers & Lybrand and Courthaulds Textiles plc, where he performed various senior group finance and divisional finance director roles. William joined Airtours plc in 1992 as UK Leisure Group Finance Director, prior to joining Thomson Travel Group in 2001. He then went on to become Chief Financial Officer of TUI Tourism.
Commercial Director
(Age 46)
William Waggott joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007. He spent the early part of his career with Coopers & Lybrand and Courthaulds Textiles plc, where he performed various senior group finance and divisional finance director roles. William joined Airtours plc in 1992 as UK Leisure Group Finance Director, prior to joining Thomson Travel Group in 2001. He then went on to become Chief Financial Officer of TUI Tourism.
Christoph Mueller
Aviation Director
(Age 46)
Christoph Mueller has extensive experience within the aviation industry, having held senior positions in Daimler Benz Aerospace, Lufthansa AG and the Sabena Group. He became Chief Financial Officer of DHL Worldwide Network SA in 2002 and became a member of the executive committee of Deutsche Post AG in 2004. In January 2006, Christoph joined the Executive Committee of TUI, responsible for the flight division. From September 2006 to the date of the merger between First Choice Holidays PLC and the Tourism Division of TUI AG he was a member of the Executive Board of TUI AG. Christoph joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007.
Aviation Director
(Age 46)
Christoph Mueller has extensive experience within the aviation industry, having held senior positions in Daimler Benz Aerospace, Lufthansa AG and the Sabena Group. He became Chief Financial Officer of DHL Worldwide Network SA in 2002 and became a member of the executive committee of Deutsche Post AG in 2004. In January 2006, Christoph joined the Executive Committee of TUI, responsible for the flight division. From September 2006 to the date of the merger between First Choice Holidays PLC and the Tourism Division of TUI AG he was a member of the Executive Board of TUI AG. Christoph joined the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 28 June 2007.
Joan Vilà
Managing Director, Online Destination Services
(Age 44)
After developing his professional career in the Destination Services Division of the Barceló Group, Joan Vilà was appointed Managing Director of the Division in 1999, which was integrated into First Choice Holidays PLC in 2000. In November 2002, he was appointed member of the Group Management Board and, at present, he is Managing Director of the Online Destination Services Sector. He holds an MBA from IESE, a degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona and has recently completed the Columbia Senior Executive programme at Columbia Business School.
Managing Director, Online Destination Services
(Age 44)
After developing his professional career in the Destination Services Division of the Barceló Group, Joan Vilà was appointed Managing Director of the Division in 1999, which was integrated into First Choice Holidays PLC in 2000. In November 2002, he was appointed member of the Group Management Board and, at present, he is Managing Director of the Online Destination Services Sector. He holds an MBA from IESE, a degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona and has recently completed the Columbia Senior Executive programme at Columbia Business School.
John Wimbleton
Managing Director, Activity
(Age 48)
John Wimbleton joined the of First Choice Holidays Group Management Board as Managing Director of the Activity Holidays Sector on 4 July 2006, having been with the Company since 1990. From 2000 to 2005 he was Managing Director of UK Distribution, with responsibility for the retail estate, sales of the Group's products through third parties and First Choice Independent Travel. Prior to this he held the position of Deputy Managing Director of First Choice Holidays for five years.
Managing Director, Activity
(Age 48)
John Wimbleton joined the of First Choice Holidays Group Management Board as Managing Director of the Activity Holidays Sector on 4 July 2006, having been with the Company since 1990. From 2000 to 2005 he was Managing Director of UK Distribution, with responsibility for the retail estate, sales of the Group's products through third parties and First Choice Independent Travel. Prior to this he held the position of Deputy Managing Director of First Choice Holidays for five years.
Dermot Blastland
Managing Director, UK & Ireland
(Age 57)
Dermot Blastland joined the Board on 6 September 1999. He is Managing Director – UK & Ireland, having previously held positions as Managing Director of First Choice Holidays & Flights, Ski, Lakes & Mountains and President of Signature Vacations. Prior to joining the Company in February 1988, he was Commercial Director at Thomson and subsequently Managing Director of Portland Holidays.
Managing Director, UK & Ireland
(Age 57)
Dermot Blastland joined the Board on 6 September 1999. He is Managing Director – UK & Ireland, having previously held positions as Managing Director of First Choice Holidays & Flights, Ski, Lakes & Mountains and President of Signature Vacations. Prior to joining the Company in February 1988, he was Commercial Director at Thomson and subsequently Managing Director of Portland Holidays.
Bill Logan
Group HR Director
(Age 59)
Bill Logan started in industrial relations. He then developed his HR career in international roles with Seagram Inc London, New York and Hong Kong. Having attended the Strategic HR Programme at Stanford University, he joined First Choice in 1998 to support the Group’s international HR development.
Group HR Director
(Age 59)
Bill Logan started in industrial relations. He then developed his HR career in international roles with Seagram Inc London, New York and Hong Kong. Having attended the Strategic HR Programme at Stanford University, he joined First Choice in 1998 to support the Group’s international HR development.
Johan Lundgren
Managing Director, Northern Region
(Age 42)
Johan was appointed to the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 21 December 2007. He has worked in the Nordic tourism industry for almost twenty years, ten of which have been as a Managing Director. Between 1999 and 2001, he was President of Sunquest Vacations in Canada. Johan went on to become Chief Executive of TUI Nordic and also took responsibility for tourism sales in the source markets of Italy and Russia. Following a reorganisation in January 2008, Johan is now responsible for the Northern Region which includes all Mainstream tourism sales in the UK & Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
Managing Director, Northern Region
(Age 42)
Johan was appointed to the Board of TUI Travel PLC on 21 December 2007. He has worked in the Nordic tourism industry for almost twenty years, ten of which have been as a Managing Director. Between 1999 and 2001, he was President of Sunquest Vacations in Canada. Johan went on to become Chief Executive of TUI Nordic and also took responsibility for tourism sales in the source markets of Italy and Russia. Following a reorganisation in January 2008, Johan is now responsible for the Northern Region which includes all Mainstream tourism sales in the UK & Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
Bart Brackx
Managing Director, Western Europe
(Age 45)
Bart Brackx started his professional career at the tour operator Jetair and in 1994 went on to become Managing Director of Internal Affairs. Since 2001, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of the Board of Directors of Jetair. In 2004, Bart was appointed Chief Executive of TUI Belgium and went on to become divisional director of TUI AG in charge of the Western Europe source market.
Managing Director, Western Europe
(Age 45)
Bart Brackx started his professional career at the tour operator Jetair and in 1994 went on to become Managing Director of Internal Affairs. Since 2001, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of the Board of Directors of Jetair. In 2004, Bart was appointed Chief Executive of TUI Belgium and went on to become divisional director of TUI AG in charge of the Western Europe source market.
Richard Prosser
Managing Director, Specialist & Emerging Markets
(Age 49)
Richard joined First Choice ten years ago, as Overseas Director for the UK and Ireland mainstream business and following his appointment as Managing Director of European Specialist Businesses in 2000, has built the current portfolio though a mixture of acquisitions, start-ups, internal reorganisations and leveraging the assets of the combined businesses. Prior to joining First Choice, Richard was Director of Cosmos Holidays, part of the Swiss owned Globus organisation.
Managing Director, Specialist & Emerging Markets
(Age 49)
Richard joined First Choice ten years ago, as Overseas Director for the UK and Ireland mainstream business and following his appointment as Managing Director of European Specialist Businesses in 2000, has built the current portfolio though a mixture of acquisitions, start-ups, internal reorganisations and leveraging the assets of the combined businesses. Prior to joining First Choice, Richard was Director of Cosmos Holidays, part of the Swiss owned Globus organisation.
Andrew John
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
(Age 54)
Andrew John is a Solicitor who practised with the City law firm of Coward Chance prior to taking up a career in industry. He held the post of Director, Legal Affairs at Unisys Limited followed by various senior legal and commercial positions at Vickers PLC, which culminated in his appointment to the Vickers Board in 1994 as Commercial Director and Company Secretary. In that role he led several high profile acquisitions and disposals. Andrew joined First Choice in December 2000.
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
(Age 54)
Andrew John is a Solicitor who practised with the City law firm of Coward Chance prior to taking up a career in industry. He held the post of Director, Legal Affairs at Unisys Limited followed by various senior legal and commercial positions at Vickers PLC, which culminated in his appointment to the Vickers Board in 1994 as Commercial Director and Company Secretary. In that role he led several high profile acquisitions and disposals. Andrew joined First Choice in December 2000.