Transat has announced the appointment of Karine Gagnon, currently Commercial Director, Transat, as General Manager of Transat Distribution Canada (TDC), effective July 1.

This appointment follows the decision by Louise Fecteau, who has led TDC for the past three years, to retire on June 30.

Transat says that in the meantime, a close collaboration between the pair will ensure an orderly transition in the leadership of Canada's largest full-service travel agency network.

“Karine is ideally suited to lead TDC in the years to come, with her extensive commercial, marketing and operational experience in the travel and hospitality sectors. In addition, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and business acumen since she arrived at Transat in 2014,” said Joseph Adamo, President, TDC, and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Transat.

Gagnon has a degree in marketing management from HEC Montreal and a diploma in tourism and travel services management from LaSalle College.

Fecteau’s retirement marks the end of a brilliant career in the travel industry. After starting as a travel professional in her native Beauce region of Quebec, she owned and operated several travel agencies before joining the Transat organization 28 years ago. Transat says she has been a pillar in every role she has assumed in both supplier and retail operations.

“On behalf of the entire Transat team, I thank Louise for her outstanding and loyal service to our company and industry at large,” Adamo concluded. “I will especially look back fondly on the last years, when we worked side by side. I want to express my gratitude and wish her a happy retirement, which she deserves.”