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UK: Independent villa and boutique hotel operator, Simpson Travel, has announced two senior appointments – Dan Butler as chief financial officer and Mark Speight as operations director.
The appointments are part of Simpson Travel’s ongoing growth strategy, as it looks to expand its range of European destinations, as well as source exclusive new properties to add to its current portfolio in Greece, Turkey, Corsica, France, Italy and Mallorca.
Butler, who will officially start on 1 October, joins in a newly created role of chief financial officer [CFO] from Awaze, where he has most recently been CFO of the specialist brands division. Prior to this role, he was finance director at James Villas.
Speight, who has been appointed as operations director [a role that was previously held by Ed Pyke, before he was promoted to managing director in March], started his new role last week. He was previously COO at Day8 Experiences, which includes the brands of Yacht Week, Ski Week and Fort George in Croatia, and prior to that, he was a Captain in the British Army.
Butler said: “Simpson Travel is a brand I have admired for a long time. Their unwavering attention to detail and authentic guest experience is second to none.
“From the colleagues I have met so far, it is an honest reflection of the culture and service ethos throughout the company and not simply a veneer created to try and leverage a buzzword. It’s businesses like Simpson Travel that have a bright future, and I am incredibly excited to be part of that growth,” he added.
Speight said: “I am honoured and proud to be joining the team at Simpson Travel. The opportunity to be part of the business during this new and exciting phase is a real privilege.
“I look forward to getting to work and building on Simpson’s outstanding record of delighting guests with its exceptional service and personalised approach,” he added.
Simpson Travel managing director Ed Pyke said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dan and Mark to the company at such an exciting time in the development of Simpson Travel. Dan has a long track record in the travel industry as an accomplished CFO with plenty of travel and M&A experience that will be of huge support in our new growth journey as we look to expand the business through a combination of growth and acquisition.
“I am also really pleased to announce Mark’s appointment. He has fantastic experience gained from leading a 350 strong team to deliver holidays in Greece, Croatia and further afield. His calm demeanour and exacting eye will be invaluable in ensuring the smooth operation of our extensive overseas division,” he added.
Established in 2002 by Graham Simpson, Simpson Travel offers a wide selection of exclusive, handpicked villas and exclusively operated boutique hotels.
In March, the brand announced the selection of a new investment partner in Risk Capital Partners [RCP]. Founded by Luke Johnson, RCP is a specialist investor in hospitality businesses and has successfully backed Neilson Active Holidays, Cruise.co and Elegant Hotels.
