Virgin Voyages reshapes UK sales team in executive reshuffle
Virgin Voyages has made several key changes to its UK sales team ahead of the upcoming wave season
This includes the formal appointment of John Delaney as senior commercial advisor, which sees him expand his former focus on the brand’s international sales distribution in the UK, Europe, and Australia to include oversight and advisory services on sales performance.
Meanwhile, Matt Lebbern has been appointed director of sales, Europe and new markets, effective immediately, after the line completed the second phase of its international expansion with the addition of 11 markets across Europe opening this year.
Since joining the Virgin Voyages team in April 2023, Lebbern has been at the helm of the company’s global expansion strategy. In addition to the 11 countries added to the sales portfolio in 2024, the company has plans for at least an additional six new markets throughout 2025.
He will report to Delaney, and will be supported by Kayleigh Hilton, who joined the team earlier this year as business development executive.
Ben Soane, who was previously the driving force behind Virgin Voyages at Voyage Store (Aviate), and most recently moved to the Virgin Voyages Brilliant Support team, will now transition to a new role; sales executive, Europe and new markets in a dedicated sales support function, reporting to Lebbern.
Luke Day, who has been at the helm of Virgin Voyages trade engagement strategy and First Mate activations, has been promoted to senior manager, global trade engagement.
Day will now oversee trade engagement across all Virgin Voyages markets, unifying the engagement strategy to agents across the North America and international markets.
SJ Walker, director of UK Sales, broadens her role to take on total overall responsibility for all aspects of Virgin Voyages’ trade distribution channels within the UK, including strategy and account development to continue driving record growth and will report to Delaney.
Virgin reshuffle to help ‘strengthen our footprint’, says CEO
Chris Woodcock has been appointed manager, international brilliant support, effective 1 January 2025. Woodcock has spearheaded all of the operational developments within the international sales team.
Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages said: “These exciting updates to our sales organisation are designed to strengthen our footprint, support our growth and continue our international expansion.
“Thanks to this team’s dedication, we’ve seen tremendous growth and know that with this structure, the skies are the limit. As we look ahead to wave season, we know this team will play a crucial role with our First Mate [agent] community and our overall success.”
