Scenic promotes Absalom and Wentworth to lead UK business

Scenic Group has promoted Nichola Absalom and Ian Wentworth to become co-leaders of its UK business.

The company said it had chosen not to fill the UK managing director role made vacant by the recent departure of Richard Twynam.

Instead, it has promoted Absalom from director of global brand to become sales and marketing director and Wentworth from finance manager to general manager UK.

The pair will lead the UK operations for Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises.

Absalom will oversee sales and marketing, including digital, direct and trade sales, and will report to Scenic Group chairman and founder Glen Moroney.

Director of trade sales Andrea Stafford will continue in her role, reporting to Absalom.

Wentworth will oversee administrative responsibilities including finance, office management, HR and legal functions.

Last month, the company confirmed it was moving its digital hubs for both brands from Manchester to its head office in Sydney, alongside Emerald’s content creation hub. As part of the restructure, Emerald Cruises brand and marketing director David Winterton left the business.

Moroney said: “Recent changes to remove the global functions from the UK and return them back to Australia means the UK team can now be 100% focused on sales and market growth.

“I took the decision not to replace the UK managing director role, and instead promote Nichola and Ian as the senior leaders in the UK to now oversee the UK office’s day-to-day operations, spearhead strategic sales initiatives and collaborate with key stakeholders to drive growth.

“I would like to personally congratulate them both on their new roles and look forward to working with them even more closely over the coming months.”

Absalom, who has been with the business since 2014, added: “I am truly delighted to accept this new role and excited by the potential to grow the UK business. There are no other brands out there that deliver what Scenic Group can for our guests and valued trade partners, I cannot wait to get going.”