Fitzell will take up a new chief product and operations officer position with the operator on 6 October. She will also join Audley’s group executive board.
It comes after she confirmed back in February she would be leaving If Only parent Elegant after seven years, and follows James Herbert’s transition into a new chief commercial transformation officer in July.
In her new role, she will oversee product and operational strategy at Audley, relationships with suppliers across commercial, operational, product and ESG – environmental, social and governance factors, and optimising buying and contracting processes.
Audley said Fitzell had a strong track record “building high-performing teams, driving strategic growth and delivering operational excellence”.
“She [Fitzell] brings a wealth of experience across travel, tourism, retail, DMCs, tour operations, and ultra-luxury hospitality and is perfectly placed to help achieve our aspiration of elevating our global presence and enriching our product offering,” said Audley Travel chief executive Nick Longman.
Fitzell added: “I am passionate about curating extraordinary tailor-made travel experiences and building a product portfolio that reflects the richness and individuality of each clients’ journey – both of which are matched by Audley Travel’s ethos.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to join the business and I’m eager to work with the team to ensure Audley continues to deliver inspirational client experiences across all destinations.”
