Andrew Flintham to Depart TUI for British Airways Holidays Leadership Role

After 17 years with TUI, Andrew Flintham is set to leave the company to become the managing director of British Airways Holidays. Flintham will take over from Claire Bentley, who will retire at the end of October after a 24-year tenure. In a broader restructuring of TUI’s global operations, Neil Swanson, TUI UK and Ireland’s chief marketing officer, will step into Flintham’s role.

Flintham, who became managing director for TUI UK and Ireland in 2018, has held various senior positions within the company. At one point, he nearly transitioned to a rival, Thomas Cook.

With over 25 years of experience in the travel and aviation industry, Flintham’s career includes stints at British Airways and First Choice Holidays before he joined TUI in 2007. By 2017, while serving as TUI UK and Ireland’s commercial director, he had accepted the role of managing director at Thomas Cook for the UK and Ireland.

However, shortly before he was to begin at Thomas Cook, TUI’s managing director, Nick Longman, stepped down. This development led TUI to approach Flintham about returning to the company as managing director, an offer he accepted.

Reflecting on his time with TUI, Flintham expressed gratitude for leading the company in the UK and helping establish its dominant market position. He added that he looks forward to rejoining the IAG family and building on the achievements of Claire Bentley and her team in the holiday sector. Flintham also remarked on the exponential growth of IAG Loyalty in recent years, stating he is eager to leverage the Avios system to enhance the experience for British Airways Holidays customers and employees.

Bentley, in her retirement announcement, shared that it had been a difficult decision to step down, as British Airways Holidays had been her passion. She explained that she had known for some time that she needed to refocus her priorities and take better care of her health. Bentley expressed pride in the accomplishments of her team and confidence that Flintham’s extensive industry experience would bring a fresh perspective to the business.

Adam Daniels, chief executive of IAG Loyalty, praised Bentley for her dedication to growing the business while maintaining a strong focus on customer experience, leadership, and partnerships. He added that the company looks forward to working with Flintham and the team to continue driving innovation in the holiday sector and finding new ways to reward loyal customers.

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