Director, Travel Ecosystem

Job Title: Head of Travel Ecosystem

Location: Doha, Qatar (relocation supported; GCC and international travel required)

Reporting to: Digital / Consumer Business Leader (with close alignment to Group CEO, CFO and Risk)

Role Overview

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 timecombining 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.

Person Specification

Experience

• 1015+ years in online travel, OTA, airline e-commerce or travel technology.
• Background at a major OTA, airline digital function or travel platform strongly preferred.
• Proven experience launching or scaling digital travel products across multiple markets.
• Exposure to embedded insurance or travel protection products is a plus.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong product and platform leadership with a commercial mindset.
• Deep understanding of travel distribution economics, pricing and commission structures.
• Excellent partnership and negotiation skills.
• Data-driven approach to growth, marketing and experimentation.
• Comfortable engaging senior executives and presenting clear, credible growth plans.

Style & Mindset

• Strategic yet hands-on.
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable building from scratch within a large organisation.
• Globally minded, culturally agile and willing to be based in Qatar.

How to Apply

If you would like to explore this opportunity, please apply to this post or contact the appointed exclusive executive search partner at Aventus Global, George Berry.

Please share an up-to-date CV and a note outlining your relevant experience. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Salary & Package

Total compensation is flexible and negotiable, reflecting seniority, specialist expertise and international relocation.

For exceptional candidates, a highly competitive package and relocation support to Qatar are available.

Inclusive Hiring

Our client and Aventus Global are committed to inclusive and equitable hiring. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds, without discrimination on the basis of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, age or any other protected characteristic.

Reasonable adjustments can be made throughout the recruitment process where required.

We look forward to hearing from you.