Portrate gone as Burnes shakes up Helloworld’s executive team

By Anne Majumdar

Helloworld’s new managing director and chief executive Andrew Burnes hasn’t wasted any time in shaking things up, with Kim Portrate’s role as chief marketing officer “removed” in an executive team rethink.

Burnes took up the reigns at Helloworld following the completion of its merger with AOT Group at the start of the month.

After some speculation today, with agents apparently already aware of the decision, he made an announcement confirming that Portrate had finished up with Helloworld on Friday.

“As part of the review into our operations and structures, I have made the decision to have the marketing team report directly into the retail division and as a result, the role of chief marketing officer has been removed,” he said.

“Unfortunately this impacts Kim Portrate and as such Kim finished up with Helloworld on Friday.”

Burnes paid tribute to Portrate’s achievements in the role, particularly her contribution to the “brand transformation” of Helloworld.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kim for the hard work and commitment she has shown in working for Helloworld,” he said.

The marketing team will now report directly into head of branded network Julie Primmer.

Meanwhile, Burnes referred to two other “significant” departures over the last two weeks – Stephanie Belton, the company’s general counsel and company secretary, and Andrea Slark, its general manager corporate development.

“Finally, Jenny Macdonald, our CFO, will be leaving the company at the end of April,” he confirmed.

“Jenny has been with Helloworld for 18 months and has done an outstanding job since replacing Elizabeth Gaines in the role of CFO and was instrumental in bringing the Helloworld / AOT merger to fruition including during her time as acting CEO throughout the transition period.”

An announcement about Macdonald’s replacement is expected to be made in the next two weeks with a global search now underway.

The company will announce its half-yearly results on Wednesday ahead of some high level management conversations which will kick off on Thursday.

“The executive management teams from helloworld and AOT in Australia and New Zealand will meet for the next three days to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the business and to discuss the long-term future of Helloworld, which I can assure you is looking increasingly positive,” Burnes said.

Read our recent chat with Kim about the #Helloworldrelay social media campaign by clicking here.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest comments

What goes around .... says:

February 23, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Agreed. Scandalous how these and others on the “executive” team have got away with such inept mis-management for so long. I hope they look back on the last 3 years or so with nothing but embarrassment and shame.

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Tony says:

February 23, 2016 at 3:59 pm

Well done Andrew Burns don’t sit on this dead wood a minute longer, plenty more to go as well, it is not hard to weed them out, the ones with the most red on their P & L’s but with the biggest personal bank accounts. Good luck Andrew, i think you will need it, the damage the old CEO’s and Executive team did to this company over the last few years is disgusting and not short of criminal. Count up how many are over $200,000 a year and not performing and not just in Sydney, sickening.

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sting says:

February 23, 2016 at 12:38 pm

……. welcome to the thank you girls club kim, stephanie, and andrea …

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Barry says:

February 23, 2016 at 12:31 pm

well that’s at least $1.5m back on to the balance sheet. Potentially more than double that when you add in the huge marketing budget that was poured down the toilet.

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