A&K Travel Group strengthens trade sales support

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group (AKTG) has hired a new chief sales officer for the trade and expanded the roles of two other sales leaders to strengthen its focus on the travel advisor sales.

Debra Fox was named chief sales officer, trade. She is responsible for all trade sales for AKTG brands: Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal, A&K Sanctuary, Cox & Kings and Ecoventura.

Fox joined the company in 2022 when she was named managing director of Abercrombie & Kent Australia. Her role expanded to include responsibility for Crystal across the Australasia region in 2024. She was named managing director for the U.K., EMEA and Australasia in 2025.

Before her time at AKTG, Fox held senior leadership roles at Thomas Cook, American Express and APT Luxury Touring & Cruising. She also founded a consultancy for travel and service-based industries focused on strategy, organizational development and customer experience.

Matias Lira, AKTG's senior vice president of trade sales for the Americas, has an expanded role. Lira will now lead field sales for all AKTG brands, as well as business development and meetings/incentives sales.

Shawn Johnson is AKTG's senior vice president of national accounts, trade loyalty and events. He also has an expanded role, overseeing trade loyalty and events across all of the company's brands.

"This structure allows us to deliver even more focused support to our trade partners than ever before," Fox said.