Steve Barrass has been named the new permanent chief executive of travel tech platform Vibe and licensed travel business P&P Group.
Vibe and P&P said Barrass had quickly identified "significant opportunities" for growth following his appointment as interim chief executive last November, and was "eager to spearhead initiatives to tap this potential" in a permanent capacity.
Former Gold Medal boss Barrass brings more than 30 years’ industry experience to the role, which spans senior management roles with the likes of The Appointment Group, dnata and Thomas Cook Group. He also served as non-executive director of Holiday Taxis.
Vibe and P&P owner Phil Cook said of Barrass: "Over the past nine months, he has demonstrated his deep industry expertise and adept leadership, ensuring that the group is exceptionally well-positioned for an important phase of our growth."
Barrass is tasked with leading the group’s global expansion, and working with the rest of the executive team to bolster its worldwide market presence.
Barrass added: “Having had significant experience running businesses both in leisure and corporate travel, I’ve really enjoyed this time getting ’under the hood’ of the Vibe platform and testing its capabilities from a customer perspective.
"I couldn’t have been more impressed. Had I known about Vibes brilliant global capability and values-driven culture, I have no doubt that I would have been a customer."