Amadeus's Australia and New Zealand managing director, Tim Russell, is to take over from Stephane Durand as the distribution company's UK and Ireland managing director.

England-born Russell, currently based in Sydney, was formerly in Bangkok where he was director of market management for Amadeus Asia Pacific.

Before that he worked in Madrid where he was regional market manager for North and Central America.

Durand has been UK and Ireland managing director for five years. He is moving to be leisure and online director and will be based in Nice, France.