APT & Travelmarvel has appointed David Winterton as sales marketing lead.

Winterton – who most recently led Emerald Cruises in the UK and worldwide – will join the river cruise and touring operator on 12 September for an initial six-month fixed term contract, with potential for an extended partnership.

He will “drive forward APT & Travelmarvel’s aggressive business strategy”, a statement said, and focus on “making the luxury APT and flexible four-star Travelmarvel brands household names”.

Winterton will report to Paul Melinis, managing director for the UK & Europe, and Katie Elson, head of marketing transformation.

APT moving ‘at pace’

Melinis said: “David’s contacts in the luxury cruise sector and understanding of the market are unparalleled, and his proven track record at elevating brands in this space make him the perfect addition to our team, as we drive our business forward at pace.”

Winterton added: “I’ve always admired APT & Travelmarvel for being a forward-thinking, progressive company.

“Having spent time with Paul, Katie and the team, I’m very excited to join the team at such a pivotal time, with new ships launching in both Asia and Europe.”

At the end of August, APT announced plans to grow its agency sales team.

At the time, head of sales and business development Brad Bennetts said: “The trade accounts for over 75 per cent of our sales and we remain committed to supporting our partners with an industry-leading standard of service.”