Cheapflights.co.uk the leading travel price comparison website in the UK, is pleased to announce that it has recruited two top executives to help sustain and accelerate the continuous hyper-growth that it has enjoyed since launch 10 years ago. Cheapflights Ltd. pioneered the concept of online publishing for travel deals in 1996 with its then radical Cheapflights.co.uk flights price search and comparison portal.
Together with its USA site Cheapflights.com, which launched in 2003, Cheapflights globally attracts 5.25 million unique users a month and has been a consistent leader in travel site design, content management and innovation. The new appointees will reinforce the Company’s existing technology and marketing teams to achieve planned product and site development projects and marketing initiatives.
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMER - HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (UK)
Cheapflights has appointed Mr. Jagjivan Ram ('Jag Ram') as Head of Product Development, (UK). Jag will join the London offices of Cheapflights and will report to Chief Operating Officer, Dave Owczarek in London
Jag Ram graduated in computer sciences in 1984 from the University of Glamorgan and brings more than 17 years of programming experience in the travel and leisure industry to Cheapflights. He was most recently at Cendant Travel Distribution Services as Senior Technical Products Development Manager (EMEA). In this role, he was responsible for the product direction and development of core information management systems and managing international development teams across a number of major projects.
Jag's earlier travel industry career includes Lastminute.com as Technical Director; Group IT Director at leisure company Clubhaus PLC; Assistant IT Director for EMEA at Time Share (Interval International Ltd. (IAC) and Business Critical Projects Manager for Cendant company Resorts Condominium International, the world's number one property holiday exchange company.
Dave Owczarek, COO of Cheapflights commented:
"We are delighted to have recruited Jag. His technology experience is immense and highly relevant to travel. It will assist us to build on the hyper-growth which we have enjoyed over the past ten years. We are entering an exciting period for the company with a planned launch in Europe. As part of our commitment to innovate, we are developing a raft of new products to keep our sites relevant and useful to our users. Jag brings a wealth of experience in facilitating these goals."
SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER
Cheapflights is also delighted to announce the appointment of Vicky McAllister as account manager. Vicky joins from AOL (UK) where she headed up partner relations within the UK AOL travel channel. Vicky will work within the sales team, headed up by Rob Passmore, Cheapflights' Commercial Director. Her role will focus on working with key accounts, with emphasis on the commercial airlines.
Vicky was previously Web Editor for Businesslink for London and earlier at LetsBuyit.com and CSG, Bowden.
Rob Passmore commented:
"We are looking forward to Vicky joining our sales team where her enthusiasm and marketing skills will assist us to add increasing levels of value to our client base. We recognise the need to help our advertising partners effectively promote and optimise their products on Cheapflights, and her experience augments our already strong industry knowledge.”
Rob added “A key benefit for our travel partners of working with Cheapflights is that, with decades of in-house travel experience, we truly understand our clients’ businesses. We do not publish deals for washing machines or financial services; we focus 100% on travel with a core focus on flights. Vicky is a welcome addition to our armoury to help keep us at the forefront of independent travel search."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Cheapflights Ltd. Founded in 1996 and profitable since launch, Cheapflights is the UK’s leading UK flight price comparison web and pioneered the travel price comparison model in the UK and also introduced pay-per-click in the UK in 2000.
Cheapflights does not sell any travel products. Each day, it displays over one million constantly updated prices supplied by hundreds of travel partners worldwide. These deals can be accessed online or by telephone direct with the advertiser from links or information on our site. This makes Cheapflights one of the most comprehensive independent publishers online of flight and other travel deals available
Leading online measurement company Hitwise has described Cheapflights as ‘the UK’s favourite travel price comparison site’. The Company's unique user numbers globally reached 5.25 million in January 2006.
Cheapflights estimates that it generated travel product sales of over £1 billion for its advertising partners in 2005. These advertisers read like a Who’s Who of the travel world - ranging from British Airways, Thomson, Expedia, Travelocity and Thomas Cook to specialist operators like STA Travel and Iglu.com.
Cheapflights is one of the few British internet companies successfully to establish an operation in the USA with Cheapflights.com. Launched in May 2003, with 2 million unique users a month it is already in the top 13 USA travel sites. The Company has also recently launched UK and USA "Flight News" blog sites with a view to these becoming major
Cheapflights' independent status as an online travel price search and comparison and travel news site makes it a natural starting point for finding travel deals and up-to-date travel industry information.
Travel Web Sites:
www.Cheapflights.co.uk; www.Cheapflights.com;
"Flight News" Blog sites:
UK News: http://news.cheapflights.co.uk; US News: http://news.cheapflights.com
