- Francis Torrilla retired at the end of September 2026 after a 28-year career with Dertour England
- Torrilla joined Kuoni as Head of Product in 1998 and became full Chief Executive in August 2025
- Dertour appointed Benjamin Boesch as joint CEO in January 2026 to take over sole leadership
- Major acquisitions during Torrilla’s tenure included Solmar Villas and the Hotelplan England portfolio
- Audley Travel named Sarah Turner as its first key account manager and Lisa Fitzell as England managing director
Francis Torrilla is to retire after nearly three decades with Dertour England. Audley Travel has named Sarah Turner as its first key account manager, while Lisa Fitzell will become the company’s England managing director. Dertour England joint CEO Francis Torrilla has been retiring at the end of September 2026 after a distinguished 28-year career with the company.
Torrilla originally joined Kuoni, which later became part of the Dertour Group in 2015, as Head of Product in 1998. He stepped into the Interim CEO role for the England division in August 2022 and was promoted to full Chief Executive in August 2025. During his leadership tenure, Torrilla steered the group through major England expansions, including corporate takeovers such as Solmar Villas and the Hotelplan England portfolio, which brought brands like Explore, Inghams, Inntravel, and Santa’s Lapland under the Dertour umbrella.
Anticipating his retirement, Dertour appointed Benjamin Boesch as joint CEO in January 2026. Boesch, who had been overseeing the group’s international strategy and specialist operations since 2023, took over sole leadership of Dertour England’s 11 specialist brands. Reflecting on his departure, Torrilla noted the immense evolution of the travel sector, recalling how the industry transitioned from embracing early computers and mobile networks to now adopting AI tools to enhance customer services. Audley Travel named Sarah Turner as its first key account manager, while Lisa Fitzell became the company’s England managing director.
