Chipchase brings more than 20 years’ marketing, brand creative, digital and communications experience to the post with the luxury operator.

He joins from Stella McCartney, where he masterminded a new brand platform as the fashion house’s chief marketing officer, relaunching its digital channels and making "sustainable innovation" a key communications focus.

Chipchase, who will be based in London, also brings experience working for Soho House, and with brands such as Absolut Vodka, Adidas, PlayStation, Microsoft and Mont Blanc.

At A&K, Chipchase has been tasked with creating a one-brand approach, building a best-in-class marketing, communications and creative team, and refining and relaunching all aspects of the group’s marketing, communications and creative approach.

Cristina Levis, A&K Travel Group chief executive, said Chipchase’s track record with leading high-end brands, along with his international experience, made him a "perfect fit" for A&K. "He is a proven leader with the vision to expand on the success built over the past 60 years and take us into our next phase of growth and innovation," said Levis.

Chipchase added: "Becoming CMO at A&K Travel Group is exactly the sort of challenge I love to be part of, creating a vision of the future influenced by a brand’s heritage. The ambition is huge, and being a key part of helping to bring that to life was too good an opportunity to miss."