White joined Abta 10 years ago and established the association’s dedicated destinations and sustainability department.

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said White left the department “in a strong and highly regarded position”.

White will depart to pursue various “study interests” while tending to her own personal and professional development, with specific focus on understanding how other sectors are tackling sustainability issues.

“I’m extremely grateful for all Nikki has brought to Abta in her time here,” said Tanzer. “Not only with respect to the destination and sustainability agenda, which has developed very significantly, but also the general management of Abta as a whole. We shall miss Nikki, but we wish her well in the new phase of her life, and career.”

Abta will not directly replace White, but will instead create a new senior leadership team role, director of industry relations, to which Susan Deer, a senior solicitor in Abta’s legal department, has been appointed.

Deer will be responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of Abta’s health, safety, crisis and operations work, and its sustainability efforts. She will also act as the principal relationship manager for Abta’s Federation of Tour Operator committees and members.

White will hand over her current responsibilities to Deer through to the end of the year.

“Susan is admirably qualified for the position, having 16 years of tour operator experience, and 10 years’ post-qualification experience as a solicitor, working on a wide range of tour operator-related issues,” Tanzer added.

“Susan has also worked closely with our public affairs team on a number of high-profile industry issues, and that close collaboration will continue.”