CLIA has strengthened its global communications team with two new appointments.
Ross Walker has joined the world’s largest cruise industry trade association from John Lewis, where he was senior social media manager, to take up the newly created role of director, global digital and social strategy.
Walker has worked in the digital marketing sector for ten years across a diverse range of industries spanning retail, travel, e-commerce, tech and the charity sector; for brands including, Nike, adidas, British Airways, Deloitte and The Royal British Legion.
Most recently, at John Lewis he was on the creative team behind the ‘John Louis’ rebrand campaign, to celebrate the birth of the UK’s new royal prince.
Also joining the CLIA communications team is Louise Prior, who is taking on the role of director, public relations.
Prior, who has worked with the CLIA UK & Ireland team since the beginning of 2018 on a consultancy basis, will be overseeing the association’s PR strategy for the UK and across Europe.
Prior has a broad range of communications experience covering public relations, journalism, internal communications crisis management and strategic planning; and has worked with brands including lastminute.com, Thomson Holidays, STA Travel, Teletext Holidays, The Spectator and TTG.
She has run her own PR consultancy business for the past 11 years.
Both Walker and Prior are based in CLIA’s London office, and will report to Megan King, CLIA senior vice president, strategic communications.
“The cruise industry is a leader in sustainable travel and tourism.
“We have a great story to tell.
“Building an interdisciplinary, transglobal communications team to tell that story has been a priority for me in 2018.
“The addition of Ross and Louise really brings this to life.
“They are top-notch talent in their disciplines who recognise the opportunity of being part of a growing, dynamic industry,” said King.