Helen Caron, currently Director of Ireland, will now also be responsible for managing the UK and Ireland Thomson Cruise business.
In her cruise role, Helen will report into Fraser Ellacott, Customer Operations Director and commences her new role on 2nd January 2014.
Fraser said: “We have an extremely successful and popular cruise business in the UK and Ireland and, as the third largest operator, it continues to play an extremely important part in our overall strategy. We have been focused on driving a programme of innovation and modernisation forward in the past few years and have developed a successful brand strategy. I am delighted that I can hand the baton over to Helen who will continue to strengthen this approach and has done a fantastic job of transforming our Irish business.”
Helen started with First Choice retail as Commercial Manager before becoming Head of Commercial. During the 2007 merger of Thomson and First Choice, she took on the role of Head of Integration for the Distribution side of the business – responsible for bringing together the retail, contact centre and back office function. In 2009, Helen became Commercial & Trading Director for Distribution, responsible for the commercial relationships with the trade, ensuring the channels of distribution delivered for mainstream and specialists businesses and also for Cruise Deals, the cruise distribution brand.
Most recently, as Director of Ireland, Helen has been responsible for the TUI UK & Ireland mainstream business from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland. Prior to joining TUI she held various roles in the cruise industry and with the escorted tour operator Page & Moy.
