CAREERS

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has announced the appointment of Andrew Gibbons as the incoming Chair of its Board of Directors. The appointment was made by the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.

Collette has introduced Shane Coupland as its new Head of Sales, Canada, overseeing sales strategy, partner engagement, and market growth across the country. 

Long-time Canadian travel industry leader (and Travel Industry Today columnist) Mike Foster has joined Travel Industry Solutions (TIS) as Director of Strategic Partners. TIS is a travel-industry legal and payments-technology platform that provides Canadian advisors with compliant client agreements, secure credit-card collection, and real-time fraud detection at the payment-vault level.

Steven Larkin is returning to Intrepid Travel. Formerly President of Intrepid Canada from 2008 to 2014, the Canadian industry veteran will take on the new role of SVP Global Sales & Partnerships, North America effective Jan. 1.

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has named Stuart Morcombe as Manager, Business Development and Network Support. In his new role, the 20-plus-year Canadian travel industry veteran will oversee the organization, planning, and growth of TDC’s franchisee and affiliate business across Canada (excluding Quebec).

TTC Tour Brands has expanded its Canadian sales team with two new managers in Western Canada. Both boasting strong industry experience, Jordan Harris takes the helm in Alberta and Manitoba, and Nicole Davey in British Columbia, Yukon and Saskatchewan.

Lisa Pierce, a figure synonymous with Air Canada for nearly four decades, has announced her retirement at the end of the year. Currently VP of Global Sales, the popular Pierce has held a variety of positions with the airline during her lengthy tenure. She will be replaced by François Choquette, who is currently Managing Director, Revenue Management.

Léonardo Fiori has been appointed as Transat’s account manager for the territories of Montréal, Laval, Lanaudière, Laurentides, and Abitibi. Fiori has held several positions at Transat Tours Canada, including Special Groups and Events Coordinator, Group Agent, and Reservations Agent.

By Michael Baginski/ A day of celebrating with industry was hardly enough to contain 25th anniversary celebrations for RIT Royal Irish Tours and the company’s affable founder Ian Duffy, who started the suburban Toronto-based tour operator in the tumultuous days after 9/11, but nevertheless saw the business thrive and grow, and is now looking to the next a quarter century with a second generation of Duffys in the fold.

Popular Cuba Tourist Board director Lessner Gomez is heading home after six years in Canada, to be replaced by Gihana Galindo, who, for the past three years, has served as Commercial Director at the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba, where she has collaborated with Canadian tour operators, giving her strong familiarity with the market and its key players.

Prominent Canadian travel industry figure Joseph (Joe) Adamo has announced his intention to retire from Transat A.T. as of Dec. 31, setting in motion a reorganization of the company’s commercial leadership team.

Intrepid Travel has promoted Caroline Tinsley to the newly created role of Head of Partnerships, Canada, marking a key strategic investment in the company’s growth across the Canadian market.