Chris Gale

I'm Chris - In my role within Business Excellence, I believe in the power of AI and automation to transform the way teams work, creating a symbiosis between technology and human potential. By integrating AI-driven tools and automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks, we empower teams to focus on what truly matters—innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking. This shift allows us to move faster, tackle more tasks efficiently, and continually improve processes. Together, we can inspire a culture of continuous improvement, where technology serves as the catalyst for smarter, more agile workflows, enabling us to stay ahead and achieve our goals with greater speed and impact. It's through this enablement and guidance that I've earned the title of "caregiving magician," sparking innovation and empowering others to succeed in ways they hadn't imagined.

This approach isn't just about making work easier; it's about unlocking the full potential of our teams and driving forward our mission with renewed energy and focus. Together, we're not just enhancing efficiency—we're driving a culture of innovation, where technology and people work in harmony to deliver our goals with speed and impact.

I originally joined Holiday Extras in September 2003 as email marketing data miner. One of the six people in the first dedicated web team, I implemented a customer email marketing strategy which created a new channel for the business - in 2003 Holiday Extras had an email database of 250,000 emails - now there's an email team looking after over five million email addresses, responsible for around 20% of our business.

I collaborated closely with the web team to establish a solid foundation for new web platforms, enhancing the flexibility of website control and optimising booking platforms, SEO, and SEM strategies. As Web Development Manager, I expanded the team to 80 people in just two years, laying the groundwork for our online customer strategy. Shortly after, I formed a new team of seven PPC executives with the introduction of Google AdWords, which led to my appointment as Head of Web Search and Marketing in 2006.

In 2008, I took on full responsibility for the project management team, while resuming leadership of the development team as Senior Head of Web Development and Delivery. By May 2011, I advanced to Associate Director, supporting the executive directors and CEO in steering the company toward its strategic goals. After taking a five-year sabbatical in France from 2017 to 2022, I returned to my true passion – helping teams explore, learn, and embrace the courage to try, fail, and ultimately succeed. My focus is on keeping us one step ahead, enabling us to deliver on our mission of engaging with our customers throughout their journey, ensuring we're there for them every step of the way during their valuable time away.

Life before Holiday Extras

I spent seven years at Eurotunnel, where I worked as an IT trainer for both the UK and French sides of the business, contributing to a major IT software and infrastructure migration roll-out. In 2000, I became part of a new e-commerce team of 10, as Eurotunnel made significant strides in transitioning to an online ticket sales model. I then took on the role of Web Developer for eurotunnel.com, supporting the company's move towards a digital-first approach.

Life outside of work

I enjoy fast cars, playing with code and keeping up-to-date with newest web and AI technologies, with a passion for AI, automation, Web3.0 and blockchain technologies to help revolutionise the World.

What's your perfect hassle-free holiday?

Christmas away with my parents and sister.  Preferably somewhere warm and a bit of culture.

Insipration

Clever stuff on the web. Evolution of web technologies, scripting, radical ideas that I can make happen! I love a problem to solve.