After announcing a record year to its travel advisor member shareholders, Ensemble Travel Group’s (ETG) Board of Directors has named David Harris as CEO, a newly-created position.
Ensemble Travel® Group is a leading global member-owned network of approximately 850 selected top-tier travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada, with expanded international presence in Australia/New Zealand.
Harris has served as Chair and Vice Chair of the North American Board for four years and had previously been on the Canadian Advisory Board from 2008-2013. He has also led and participated as an active Director on numerous committees of the Board including Finance, Australia, Executive, Acquisitions and Compensation & Review. He was first elected to the Canadian Advisory Board for Ensemble in 2008 and was then nominated and elected as a Director to the North American Board for Ensemble in 2013.
“We are delighted to see David appointed as Chief Executive Officer,” says Ensemble Senior Vice President and General Manager Australia/New Zealand, Trish Shepherd.
“It’s an exciting time for Ensemble Travel Group with the recent celebration of our 50 year anniversary and a record year of successful growth in 2018. David’s wealth of knowledge and industry experience and longstanding relationship with Ensemble and its members put him in an excellent position to lead our executive team and global organisation. David has been particularly active in the expansion of Ensemble Travel in Australia and New Zealand and we look forward to working closely with him as this presence continues to grow,” adds Trish Shepherd.
Harris has a proven record of driving strategic and member-centric initiatives to the next level. Working in the industry for his entire professional career, Harris’s parents opened a travel agency franchise in August of 1982 and, when they retired in 1995, David purchased the agency and has steadily grown the business ever since. He previously served as the President and sole Owner of M. Ross Harris Travel Limited, which operates three consumer facing travel brands, Orion Travelinx, Voyageur Travel and Charrisma Travel Group. He plans to draw upon his experience and successes to provide a unique perspective to the ETG team.
Harris will be based in Toronto, and will travel to New York City offices on a regular basis.
“I am extremely excited to have been asked to take on this role for Ensemble. As a passionate, solution-focused Director for many years, I look forward to working with such a world class team of dedicated employees,” said Harris. “It is our responsibility to bring not only value but efficiencies, excitement and clarity to travel sales in this complex industry. We feel the opportunities are almost immeasurable, and I look forward to collaborating and ensuring this is accomplished in alignment with our strategic objectives.”
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