Sarah Johnson becomes founder - recognising her role in setting up the business 13 years ago - with current managing director, Jules Ugo, named chief executive.

Kate McWilliams moves from deputy managing director to managing director LATAM, responsible for the growth and management of the Latin American and Spanish speaking division, one of Lotus’s specialist areas.

The agency said the shake up had been “in the planning for some months” and comes 18 months after the sale of a majority-stake to Warren Johnson’s W Communications.

The restructure is designed to allow Lotus to capitalise on its “fast-paced growth” since the W Communications partnership and focus on its newly defined divisions of Hotels, Brand, Corporate and Destinations. 

The more streamlined approach will also allow for a more strategic new-business strategy and more effective operational and financial management and reporting.

Ugo said: “I’m delighted to be moving into the role of Lotus CEO. The travel industry faces challenging times ahead and needs consultancies that can offer commercially driven, data-directed strategies.

“The next-phase growth of Lotus will see us continuing to work closely with W and focusing our efforts on new business whilst maintaining the high level of client service we are renowned for.”