Our Team
Gail Kenny, Managing Director
Gail began her travel industry career working for one of the leading business travel management companies - The Travel Company. In a varied role that incorporated aspects of sales, marketing, supplier relations and event management, Gail gained a valuable insight to the corporate travel market. Gail progressed on to the leisure side of the industry with an HR management and operational position with Austravel.
In 1996 Gail was selected by travel industry veteran Michael East to join Argyle Executive Recruitment, the market leader in its sector. Gail rose to become a senior director and the driving force behind the company until departing in 2004 to found Gail Kenny Executive Search.
Over the years Gail has built up an extensive network of contacts in the travel industry and an ability to match clients' specific requirements with an intuitive selection of quality candidates.
Ian Brooks, Sales and Marketing Director
Ian began his career with ILG plc, the Intasun Holidays to Air Europe Group. Following its demise, Ian joined Virgin Atlantic and rose to the position of General Manager - Sales and Commercial. After a secondment as Commercial Director for Eurostar, Ian returned to Virgin to set up and run a European tour operation, and later an online travel agency.
In 2001, Ian left the Virgin Group after 10 years, and along with another ex-Virgin director founded the Med Group, comprising a dynamic packaging retailer (Travelbargains Ltd) and an online hotel broker (Med Hotels Ltd). The business pioneered the trend in DIY travel packages, and rapidly grew to turnover £60m. After bringing on board Barclays Ventures, the businesses were sold in December 2003 to Lastminute.com plc.
Ian also retains a wide network of relationships in the travel industry.
Garry Thompson, Associate
Garry is a HR Consultant and Executive Coach with over 20 years' experience working both strategically and operationally. He has a proven track record in managing change and developing pragmatic and innovative HR initiatives in relation to: organisation development, reward, training and development, employee relations, recruitment and selection, policy and procedures, and career management. Garry has specific experience of managing high growth and start-up businesses.
Garry was HR Director for Opodo, the European on-line travel agent from 2004 to 2006, prior to Opodo he was Head of HR for Amadeus Services Ltd and prior to this, Garry worked for 11 years at Galileo United Kingdom, a wholly owned BA subsidiary, where he was responsible for all aspects of Human Resources.
Garry is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He is an ACAS trained Mediator and is also qualified to administer and interpret psychometrics.
Jayne Peirce, Senior Account Manager
Jayne had always wanted to work in the travel industry from a very early age so after leaving college joined Thomson Worldwide in a reservations role and soon progressed to head office where her career commenced in a commercial role.
After working for Thomson and Sunworld, Jayne progressed to her first management role at First Choice within the Lates department where she gained vast commercial, and revenue management experience. In 1998 Jayne took a change of career and joined Cosmos and Avro as Teletext and Telesales Key Account Manager. Due to Jayne's sound commercial awareness she then joined the Commercial division building a new working relationship with internet, digital TV companies and affinity groups before Heading the Lates Department for 5 years.
After 15 years of working in travel industry Jayne has a good insight and understanding of Tour Operating and in particular Yield and Revenue Management.
Vicki Wall, Senior Account Manager
Vicki’s early career was predominately within the Business Travel arena. Vicki rapidly progressed to Branch Manager for United Norwest Business Travel in 1994. This soon saw her expend her experience in Business Travel with a move to Regent Business Travel responsible for Operations and Business Development. This role introduced Vicki to Travel Technology and a move into this specialised area soon followed.
Since then, Vicki has spent over 6 years in the travel technology arena, firstly with Dataflex Business Systems and latterly TelMe Farebase Ltd. These roles saw Vicki specialise in solution selling travel technology for all segments of the travel market on a global basis. From back/mid office solutions, GDS, Online Booking Tools, Fares management and distribution, API and development, Vicki has added value at all levels to her clients in this highly competitive arena.
18 years of experience added to her career has allowed Vicki to build up a very extensive network globally in both Business Travel and Travel Technology.
Chris Burwell, Account Manager
Chris moved into the Travel Industry in 1999 working for RCI Europe. Chris soon progressed through both the inbound and outbound depts. In the call centre Chris successfully lead an outbound team pioneering coaching techniques. Chris moved across to the Key Client Team where he designed launched and managed the outbound strategy directly liaising with the US and European Teams driving sales.
After a restructure Chris moved into Commercial where he championed the Travel Insurance product leading a tender process and managing relationships with Travel Suppliers. He then moved to 1st4cruising on an interim basis as Commercial Executive where he renegotiated the supply of Insurance and Car hire whilst also sourcing Hotels, Airlines, transfers and other travel products.
Chris has a good understanding and knowledge of Tour Operating and International Markets within the travel industry.
Bernadette Pini, Sales Support Manager
Berni’s first introduction into travel was a work placement for Sunworld Holidays back in 1996, after a successful placement she was invited back during the summer holidays.
She then got the buzz of the travel industry and joined Sunworld, within the Late Sales and Yield department, working on promotional and tactical activity with agents. When Sunworld/JMC became part of the Thomas Cook Group and relocated to Peterborough she decided this was her opportunity to move on.
She then spent 5 years working for Cosmos Holidays, Avro, Cosmos Tourama and Somewhere2stay.com in Sales Support, supporting a team of field Sales Managers and the retail trade.
