As part of a commitment to growing and developing its online platforms, new head of e-commerce and leisure marketing Paul Whitters has joined from furniture company Houseology.

Elsewhere, Caroline Donaldson has been promoted to director of product and commercial. Following the departure of Catriona Parsons, Donaldson’s remit will include cruise, where there have been several additional internal promotions.

Louise Hunter will take on the position of head of cruise, looking after all business development and marketing for the cruise division, while Sharon Fox steps up to become head of cruise product and commercial.

Meanwhile, with just shy of 800 staff – more than 1,000 including the company’s managed service travel partners – Barrhead president Jacqueline Dobson told TTG there will be a heavy focus on investing in its staff this year.

The agency giant is advertising for a head of people development to oversee training and skills development for the full group.

“The creation of this role reflects our continued dedication to offering our employees the best training opportunities in the industry,” Dobson said.

Barrhead’s talent management programme will launch in the next quarter, helping streamline all personal development for employees and identify skills across the business.

Managers will be able to track the development of their team with staff training records, personal development plans and one-to-ones, stored in a profile.

Elsewhere, Barrhead’s Brilliant Travel division has welcomed six new members this year including a former Thomas Cook employee, who will open Brilliant’s first agency in Wales.