Director, Travel Ecosystem Client of Aventus Global Talent

Our client is one of the largest insurance groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a rapidly expanding portfolio of digital and consumer-facing offerings delivered through its applications and platforms.

The organisation is launching a global digital travel ecosystem, integrating hotel and flight bookings directly into its existing app environment and insurance products.

The ambition is substantial: to leverage a multi-million-strong customer base and build a trusted, large-scale travel proposition over time combining travel bookings, insurance and ancillary services into one seamless experience, with the long-term goal of competing with major Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).

The Head of Travel Ecosystem will own the end-to-end travel strategy, including product vision, partnerships and go-to-market execution. This is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced travel leader who has built or scaled digital travel platforms and understands how to compete with global OTAs while leveraging the trust and scale of a major financial services brand.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Proposition

• Define the overall travel ecosystem strategy, including priority markets, customer segments and travel verticals (hotels, flights, packages, activities).
• Design an integrated proposition where bookings, insurance and ancillary services work seamlessly (for example, automatic travel cover and one-click upgrades).
• Own the multi-year growth plan and P&L, including volumes, commissions, marketing investment and profitability.

Product & Platform

• Own the product roadmap across app and web, covering the full customer journey from search to post-trip servicing.
• Define the right balance between building in-house, partnering and white-labelling inventory and technology.
• Work closely with Technology, Data and UX teams to deliver fast search, competitive pricing and highly relevant recommendations.

Partnerships & Supply

• Lead partnerships with global and regional OTAs, airlines, hotel groups and wholesalers.
• Negotiate commercial terms and develop co-marketing and loyalty structures that drive repeat bookings.

Go-to-Market & Growth

• Launch the platform using the organisation s existing customer base in Qatar and the GCC, then scale internationally.
• Drive growth through CRM, cross-sell from insurance, performance marketing and in-app merchandising.
• Continuously raise the bar on pricing competitiveness, user experience and service quality.

Risk, Operations & Governance

• Ensure compliance with travel, data privacy and consumer protection regulations across target markets.
• Define the operating model for customer service, refunds, rebooking and claims.
• Partner with Finance and Legal on settlement, tax and commission flows.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the single owner for travel within the wider digital ecosystem.
• Report regularly to senior leadership on strategy, progress and performance.
• Build and lead a small, high-impact travel team over time.