Debretts goes east in merger

MICEBTN archive stories issue 26

Friday, 19 January 2007

DEBRETTS Travel Services is to have a new name and a new chief executive from next year following the Perth-based company’s merger with Brisbane-based CTM Travel.

The new entity will be led by CTM founder and managing director, Jamie Pherous, while Debretts managing director Denise Monk will take on a new role as customer value manager, based in Perth.

Monk said combining the skills and resources of Debretts and CTM was “a great marriage.”

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner, they’re very customer focused and service orientated. They invest a lot of time and money in training,” she said.

Monk said Debretts was “big in Western Australia, and the combined operation will create a very large Australian company”.

“CTM is Travel Management Company, with a true national presence. The company is multi-award winning, and recognized as one of Australia’s leading service focused travel companies.”

Monk said details of the deal were confidential. She said that after 21 years of operations, the Debretts Travel name had “a lot of quality”.

CTM was launched in 1994, and has built the company from its headquarters in Brisbane to become the largest privately owned TMC in Australia, employing more than 100 staff.

Pherous has been a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and CTM is a BRW Fast 100 company in Australia.