Current CEO and director of Express Travel Group, Tom Manwaring, will retire from his position as CEO effective 30 June 2025.
Manwaring purchased the ETG business in 2003 and built what was a small Asian VFR consolidation business into one the industry’s leading travel distribution companies before it was sold to Helloworld for a total of $70 million.
Helloworld Travel Limited completed its 100 per cent acquisition of the ETG in August 2023. The $70 million acquisition was paid in two tranches. The first was a combination of a cash payment of $40m and the issue of new Helloworld shares equal to $10m, while the second tranche comprised a $15m cash payment and the issue of $5m worth of Helloworld shares.
Helloworld completes $70m acquisition of Express Travel Group
Helloworld said in a statement that Manwaring had a remarkable career spanning senior management roles in aviation, various key industry board positions, and in recent times was critical in navigating the industry through the challenges of COVID in his tenure as Chairman of ATIA.
Manwaring has accepted the role as non-executive Chairman of ETG/FTG and will move into this role within the broader HLO Group.
As a result of this change, Jason Aghan, currently general manager Sales & Marketing at ETG, will replace Manwaring, in the position of group general manager ETG.
“Jason already sits on the executive management team of HLO, and I congratulate him on the outstanding job he has done since ETG became a part of HLO and on his promotion to this position,” Helloworld Travel CEO & managing director Andrew Burnes AO said.
Aghan has had a long career in various management roles in aviation before starting at ETG 7 years ago in his current position. He has played a key role in the growth of the business and the development of the Agency networks within ETG.
“Jason is the best person to lead our network of members into the next chapter of its success,” Manwaring said. “I am proud of the network and the legacy it will continue to have in the Travel Industry. I am also delighted to be taking on a role that allows me to be involved with the business across Australia and New Zealand.”
Effective 1 July, all ETG/FTG senior management team members will report into Aghan.
