Simon Applebaum has been appointed the new Managing Director of Gold Medal.

Mr Applebaum, who has held senior roles at companies including Thomas Cook and Attraction World Group – where he was an MD until 2020 – will start on 30 November.

Outgoing MD Lisa McAuley will stay on in a part-time capacity until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover.

Commenting on his appointment, dnata Travel Group CEO (UK & Europe), Ailsa Pollard said: “Simon’s energy, ideas and track record in efficiently leading large and complex businesses is very impressive.

“He is very effective in managing high performance teams, and innovating across technology, product and operations to deliver against challenging strategic objectives.

“He is also well-known and well-respected across the trade, and will be a great asset as Gold Medal continues its mission to support its valued trade partners.

“I’m looking forward to watching him apply all his expertise and leadership abilities to Gold Medal as it continues its recovery from the pandemic and reinforces its position as the UK’s leading trade-only long-haul tour operator.”

Mr Applebaum said: “Gold Medal is a powerhouse in the UK trade, with its record of success driven by an outstanding team and the unrivalled relationship it has with agents.

“My main objective is to ensure I’m supporting them in maintaining the current recovery trajectory through peaks and into next year, and that recent innovations in product and technology continue to ensure Gold Medal is making the lives of agents better and facilitate their efforts to market and sell holidays.”