MSC Cruises UK managing director Antonio Paradiso, Holiday Extras head of partnerships James Lewis and A-Rosa River Cruises managing director UK and Ireland Lucia Rowe all take up roles with the institute, which advocates on behalf of its members and the wider travel industry.

Lewis and Rowe join the board for the first time, while Paradiso will now occupy a full seat following a year as a co-opted member.

The changes were announced on Thursday morning (April 4) after nominations closed at 5pm on Wednesday (April 3).

ITT chairman Steven Freudmann confirmed to TTG that for the first time in “many years”, no elections were held as the number of nominations matched the number of vacancies on the board.

Bowing out after more than 20 years’ service between them are: Simon Johnson (11 years), founding director of Shipshape Consulting; Julia Lo Bue-Said (eight years), chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership; and Jo Kolatsis (four years), founding director of Themis Advisory.

Freudmann said he wished to thank Johnson, Lo Bue-Said and Kolatsis for their time on the board and the “tremendous contribution” they made to the institute.

“We shall miss them,” he added.

Lewis and Rowe join the board in a general capacity, while Paradiso takes up the shipping portfolio.

The new-look board will meet for the first time on July 18, preceded by two final meetings of the current membership on Thursday (April 4) and May 8.

There remains a vacancy on the board for a tourist board director.