Peter Long

Peter Long (born 4 June 1952) is an English businessman and Joint Chief Executive of TUI Group

Long was born in Malta, as his father was serving in the Navy. He attended Prices Grammar School in Fareham, Hampshire, following which he went to further education college to qualify as an accountant.

Long began his career as a cost accountant at electronics firm Vernitron. He then worked in finance at engineering firm BTR before moving into the travel industry. He joined Harry Goodman’s International Leisure Group in 1984, becoming Chief Executive of the tourism division. Following this he set up Sunworld in 1991 with Spanish hotelier partners which was eventually sold to the Thomas Cook Group in June 1996.

In November 1996 Long was appointed Group Managing Director of First Choice Holidays PLC and became Chief Executive in September 1999.

He was one of the architects of the 2007 consolidation in European tour operating in which First Choice Holidays merged with TUI Tourism (part of TUI AG) in September 2007 to create TUI Travel PLC, one of the largest leisure travel groups in the world. TUI Travel’s businesses range from market-leading sun and beach brands to specialist activity and adventure and online accommodation providers. Post-merger, Long grew TUI Travel’s profits in sometimes challenging market conditions by offering more differentiated and unique holiday products - hotels and activities that cannot be bought through any other operator - to its customers.

TUI Travel merged with TUI AG on 17th December 2014 to form TUI Group, the world's largest tourism company. Long is currently Joint Chief Executive of TUI Group and will become Chairman of the Supervisory Board in February 2016.

Long became Chairman of Royal Mail on 1 September 2015.

On 1 October 2013, Long was appointed President of the Family Holiday Association, a UK-based charity which provides short breaks away from home for more than 2,000 disadvantaged families.

Medal of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for contributions to services to Spanish tourism (2009).

Member of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame (inducted in 2001).

Odyssey Award from the Institute of Travel and Tourism (received twice, 1998 and 2008).

Fellow of the Tourism Society.