A&K Travel Group forms leadership team for new strategy

A&K Travel Group has created a centralized leadership team with a slew of new executive promotions, including the creation of a new role. 

The changes serve the company’s new One A&K strategy that aims to connect and synergize markets and brands while establishing new roles that connect A&K and Crystal worldwide.

Marett Taylor is now chief sales officer, a newly created role. She steps up from her previous role as vice president of sales in which she oversaw the U.S. sales team as well as travel agency partners and consortia in North America.

Taylor has served in other sales and marketing roles in East Africa, Southern Africa and Europe since joining the travel company in 2000.

As chief sales officer, Taylor will continue to strengthen the travel group’s partnerships and innovate its sales approach across the A&K and Crystal brands. 

The newly created role joins a roster of new hires made over the past year as A&K Travel Group, led by CEO Cristina Levis, expanded its portfolio with the June 2022 acquisition of Crystal Cruises, buying the rights to the former company’s name its two oceangoing cruise ships.

Last year, the group brought in Kim Berman as chief legal and people officer, who joined after many years in the cruise industry at Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Silversea. With the retirement of Crystal president Jack Anderson, Berman is now also managing director of Crystal’s office in Aventura, Fla.

Peter Chipchase joined as chief marketing officer last December and is leading the brand repositioning and digital transformation of both A&K and Crystal.

Fernando Delgado, chief product officer, will oversee the management and development of A&K’s camps, lodges and river boats in addition to leading the A&K product line. He will also be responsible for overseeing Crystal’s marine and hotel operations, starting Sept. 1.

Amy Weyman has been appointed managing director for A&K USA in addition to her role as executive vice president of marketing for the USA, which she has held for the past 15 years.

Andrew Burrett will become managing director for A&K UK in addition to his current role as A&K Travel Group’s CFO.

Debra Fox has been reconfirmed as managing director of A&K Australasia with additional responsibilities as executive vice president of trade sales Asia Pacific for A&K and Crystal.

“A&K Travel Group is now geared up for its next chapter of growth, with one of the industry’s finest leadership teams,” said Levis. “A&K and Crystal are both joined at the roots by the same vision and passion, whether on vast expanses of the sea or the wildest frontiers on land. The unity of these brands under the ‘One A&K’ vision is much more than a business strategy — it’s the natural fusion of our shared dedication to customer-first attention to detail and unparalleled experiences.”

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