Starting on 13 January, Balasco will support Abta’s members and help drive the association’s membership strategy.
Prior to Kenwood, Balasco also held roles at Celebrity Cruises, Kuoni and Thomas Cook.
Balasco said: “I look forward to meeting our members at events, supporting them and seeing how we can further engage with Abta members through new strategic ideas.”
Rachel Jordan, Abta’s director of financial protection and membership, hailed Balasco’s travel industry “passion” and “deep experience in the sector”.
She added that Balasco has “a real understanding for the benefits of being an Abta members”.
“This, along with his strategic experience and his commitment to delivering a premium service for businesses, makes Roberto well-placed to take over the head of membership role and provide exceptional support to our members,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sunvil Group managing director Chris Wright has been appointed to Abta’s board of directors with immediate effect.
He is joined by Lady Minette Batters, the former president of the National Farmers’ Union. Their appointments were confirmed at Abta’s AGM on 28 November, along with Celebrity Cruises’ EMEA boss Giles Hawke.
Ex-Kuoni boss Derek Jones has stepped down from the board after six years and remains in his role as Abta LifeLine chair.
