The operator told TTG it could not yet reveal the name of the new head of sales, but Nick Talbot, marketing director at Funway, said the person had “extensive experience in travel”.

Darrington left Funway in April to take up the role of sales director UK and Ireland at Royal Caribbean.

In recent weeks, Funway has welcomed four employees into newly created roles and is in the process of filling vacancies for a further five positions as part of a “big recruitment drive”.

Talbot said: “We are expanding our team to react to all of the opportunities coming our way, and also to continue our growth. We are adding the positions to increase our dedicated campaigns with our travel agent partners.”

The tour operator will welcome Sam Robinson as its new marketing manager, and Christian Brett will be filling the position of marketing executive. Byron De Gouveia has joined Funway as its new assistant management accountant and Ayo Akinsala has been appointed operations executive.

The roles for which the operator is still recruiting are product manager, commercial executive, airline executive, after-sales support team member and office assistant.

Talbot continued: “Funway is working a lot more closely now with our partners and we are looking at the long-term future to see what we need in terms of staffing levels to hit our ambitious growth plans.”

Talbot credited the success of Funway’s Mexico and Caribbean programme, launched in 2016, as one of the main reasons behind the need for a new recruitment drive.

“Our Mexico and Caribbean programme is a huge opportunity for us and it really is going from strength to strength and taking up an increasingly significant proportion of our business,” Talbot concluded.