Focus Travel Partnership has appointed a Managing Director following the departure of its CEO Steve Banks.
Banks stepped down after less than seven months to lead the travel division of The Human Network, which made an entry into the TMC sector after buying Belfast-based Beyond Business Travel.
Paul Spencer starts as Focus MD with immediate effect and was chosen after a “comprehensive and in-depth selection process” by the TMC group’s Board of Directors.
Spencer joined the business travel industry in 2008 as Head of Sales for Hillgate Travel after a diverse career in global assignment management and software development, both as a supplier and a client.
During a six-year tenure with Statesman Travel he held responsibility for the TSI Global Network, incorporating 40 TMC members, and launched TSI’s UK IATA operations under the ITS brand as Managing Director in 2019.
Focus Interim Chair, Adrian Parkes, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Paul to the role of Managing Director. He brings strong leadership experience and industry knowledge, and will be an asset in driving continued success for the whole partnership, the team are looking forward to working with him.”
Spencer added: “The role allows me to bring my experience and industry knowledge from a wide variety of senior management positions in the TMC and business travel partnership sector, to a successful and extremely well-run organisation. I look forward to collaborating with the Focus team, our Board, TMC Partners, and Suppliers, to further develop the value of this unique business.”
Parkes returned to Focus as Interim Chair earlier this month following the decision by Bob Schumacher to step down.
Schumacher, a former United Airlines stalwart, joined Focus in January 2024 as Non-Executive Chair of its Board of Directors following the retirement of Parkes.
