Hynes will join on 31 July reporting to UK managing director Mark Duguid, and will take over from Helen Roberts, who is leaving Kuoni after 20 years.

In her new role, Hynes will be tasked with enhancing the in-store experience at Kuoni, investing in talent and ensuring the Kuoni brand stands out in the market.

At the Body Shop, she was responsible for the brand’s biggest global retail channel, spanning more than 250 stories, nine franchise partners and a further 150 pharmacies in Ireland.

Besides nine years’ experience with the Body Shop, Hynes’ career has also seen her spend time with other major high street names, including TK Maxx, Monsoon Accessorize and L’Oréal.

"I’m really excited about Donna joining the team," said Duguid. "She’ll be able to use her background in retail, fashion and beauty to bring a new dynamic and fresh perspective to our travel business. 

"With a strong track record of customer experience, store operations and operational efficiency, she’ll be able to shape the future direction of our store network and approach to retailing."

Hynes said it was an exciting time to join Kuoni. "During my time as retail and property director at The Body Shop, I learned people are the heart of the business and so I am looking forward to meeting everyone, especially all the retail teams, in stores very soon.

"I’m so excited about this next chapter in my career and can’t wait to immerse myself in this award-winning, heritage brand and make positive impact together."

Kuoni currently has 26 retail outlets in the UK – 10 on the high street, eight in John Lewis stores and another eight in shopping centre locations. It has recently extended its exclusive partnership with John Lewis, which dates back now more than a decade.

"Our store network is a fantastic asset and we want to make sure we stay on top of our game, driving innovation in the fast-changing retail sector," said Duguid.

"Our people are part of what makes Kuoni different and with Donna’s input we’re going to assert our position as one of the best places to work and ensure that our retail division continues to thrive."