Sealy started as head of trade sales at the London-based company today (June 25) after six years with If Only.

He is tasked with overhauling the way Exsus works with agents and has been charged with personally overseeing the sourcing of new business, securing major commercial agreements and training.

Sealy told TTG the operator, which specialises in worldwide tailor-made holidays, had taken “the odd booking” from agents since launching more than 20 years ago but was now looking to substantially ramp up its trade business.

MORE: If Only head of sales Neil Sealy to leave the business

“For the last five or six years trade hasn’t been a side of to the business that they have been focused on and in the last year I don’t think there have been any agent sales - so it really is a blank canvas,” he said.

“Not too many people within the trade have heard of Exsus really so there is plenty to talk about and being able to build things from the ground up was the challenge that attracted me to the role.”

Sealy was approached for the position earlier this year and, upon agreeing to join Exsus, outlined a budget with its management team with which to drive its agent strategy.

He said his early plans would be to secure commercial agreements with larger agent groups; meet with smaller agencies specialising in Exsus’s key destinations and increase involvement with trade associations.

He will also look to educate Exsus’s team in how to work with agents more closely and cater services for the trade.

Sealy said further appointments to the operator’s trade sales team would be dependent on hitting his own sales targets and would be decided upon later in the year.