Travelbag poaches BA head to run marketing

Specialist travel operator Travelbag has appointed Colin Whaley as its top marketer.

Whaley joins the company as marketing director from his position as manager of special projects at British Airways (BA). He was previously head of sales and marketing at British Airways Holidays.

Last year he was appointed to head sales and marketing at Accoladia, the company formed by British Airways Holidays and Thomas Cook Holidays, but had requested to be transferred back to BA after three weeks as he did not want to relocate to the Peterborough head office (MW August 2 2001).

Travelbag offers packages to destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Its advertising and media buying business is currently handled by Conrad Advertising and the company spent &343,000 in the year to March (AC Nielsen MMS).

Whaley was unavailable to comment on whether he would review his agencies.

He replaces Julie Tamblyn at Travelbag who becomes product director. Whaley reports to managing director Peter Liney, who joined Travelbag from his position as general manager of leisure sales at BA in 1998.

Travelbag and long-haul operator Bridge The World merged under parent company Travelbag Holdings in December last year. The brands have continued to operate independently and in competition with each other.