Ambassador Cruise Line has announced the appointment of four new Business Development Executives, a Trade Support Executive and a Trade Support Assistant as the no fly, affordable quality cruise line further bolsters its in-house trade team with a view to ensuring the business meets the needs of its agent partners in the most effective and productive way possible.
Each new addition to the team that now totals 13 colleagues will have responsibility for fostering existing commercial relationships in their respective geographical or work areas to maximise sales opportunities and drive day-to-day trading while instigating new agent and trade partnerships.
Debbie Ballantyne has joined Ambassador as Business Development Executive for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Reporting into Karen Cameron, Ambassador’s Deputy Head of Trade until Ambassador names Karen’s replacement as Divisional Sales Manager – North, Debbie joins Ambassador from Barrhead Travel, where she was a Branch Manager. Previous roles include sales positions at Iglu Cruise and Cruise.co.uk.
Natalie Hurst has joined Ambassador as Business Development Executive for the North Midlands, along with Kelly Whitefoot, who has been recruited as a BDE for the South Midlands, and Jade Cheadle, who will have responsibility for trade relations in the South West and Wales. All three report into Louise Tansey, Ambassador’s Divisional Sales Manager – South.
Natalie joins Ambassador from The Travel Network Group, where she was a Business Development Manager, having previously worked as a Branch Manager for Newell’s Travel, the independent travel agent with 11 branches across Cornwall and Devon. Kelly joins Ambassador from Aquilium Travel Group, where she was Operations Manager, having previously worked in management roles at Polka Dot Travel, Hays Travel, Thomas Cook and TUI. Jade joins Ambassador from TUI, where she was a Travel Advisor and Team Leader, and whose prior roles include sales positions outside of the travel sector.
Michelle Nairne has joined the team as Group Support Executive, reporting into Alan Rennie, Business Development Manager – Groups. Joining the business from Adrian Flux Insurance Services, where she was a Customer Services Clerk, Michelle’s role focusses on ensuring contracts, allocations and group needs are met while establishing and optimising processes to capitalise on business opportunities within both new and existing partnerships.
Audra Garner has moved from her role as Reservations Specialist in Ambassador’s Contact Centre to the position of Trade Support Assistant to bolster the support function. Audra, who has worked in the industry for several years and joined Ambassador in June 2021, reports into Ambassador’s Trade Support Manager, Beth Barker.
Nicola Harper, Head of Distribution at Ambassador Cruise Line, commented: “I am delighted to welcome some great new talent to the Ambassador Trade Team, which will only benefit our agent partners as we look to continue providing them with all the support and tools they need. These experienced additions illustrate just how highly we value the trade, who can rest assured that Ambassador will be with them every step of the way as we look to continue serving both the business and our partners in the most effective and productive way possible.”
The recruitment of new BDEs follows the news that Karen Cameron has been promoted to the position of Deputy Head of Trade and that the company has launched a search for her replacement as Divisional Sales Manager – North. The successful candidate will be charged with ensuring Ambassador continues to meet the needs of its trade partners in the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the most effective and productive way possible. Interested parties should message Nicola Harper (Nicola.harper@
