Focus Travel Partnership has announced the appointment of Steve Banks as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Steve Banks brings over 30 years of corporate travel experience in senior roles to the Partnership. With an early career at Thomas Cook Travel Management, moving to Lonsdale Travel, purchased by Capita plc in 2005, subsequently purchasing and consolidating Harry Weeks Travel, BSI, Expotel and NYS Corporate and rebranding as Agiito in 2021. Steve’s career has included leading their Business Development and Customer Experience teams, moving to an Executive role as their Chief Commercial Officer in 2020, with overall responsibility for account management, sales, marketing, product and partnerships, transferring to Commercial Director for new owners Clarity Business Travel in November last year. He has been leading, motivating, and mentoring teams to meet and exceed company profitability targets, industry representation and engagement, and is a passionate supporter of corporate travel and the role of a travel management company.
He comes to Focus Travel Partnership with extensive executive-level insight in commercial strategy and business development through customer retention, sales, marketing, and proposition to drive business growth and market share. Steve was also a previous Board member of worldwide travel management consortium, GlobalStar.
An experienced and strategically driven new Chief Executive Officer
Focus Non-Executive Chair, Bob Schumacher, commented: “Bringing onboard an experienced and strategically driven new CEO was a pivotal goal for the Focus Board of Directors, and we are delighted to welcome Steve Banks to lead Focus Travel Partnership into its exciting new chapter. With his proven experience in all sectors across core and ancillary travel products, leadership skills, commercial acumen, and visionary approach, Steve brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of industry insight that will undoubtedly drive the whole Partnership to new levels of excellence.”
Steve Banks commented: “I’m honoured and delighted to be joining Focus Travel Partnership as the new CEO in the near future. I have always admired the team and purpose of Focus, it’s Partner’s collective position and voice in the corporate travel market. I look forward to leading the consortium to continued growth and success.”
Banks’ appointment follows former CEO Abby Penston’s move to the leisure travel sector abroad. He is expected to formally commence the position in June 2024.
About Focus Travel Partnership
Focus Travel Partnership is the leading UK business travel consortium for the independent and SME sector and represents 52 TMC Partners with a total turnover of over £1 billion. Focus leverages the latest innovation and technology platforms and a comprehensive range of services to enable its TMC Partners to future-proof their businesses.
The collective size and buying power of the partnership’s TMC Partners enables Focus to negotiate the best deals with suppliers across all sectors. For more information, please visit https://focustravel.uk/
Media contact: Joanne Emerson, joannee@focustravel.uk