IAN SPARKS HAS BEEN NAMED as Expotel's new group chief executive, following the departure of Ian Burnley, who stepped down on June 1, after five years in the position. Sparks was most recently managing director of FirstAssist Services, the health and wellbeing services provider. Prior to this, he was chief executive of The Casella Group, the environmental services business; chief executive of Cendant's European relocation and real estate business; and a general manager at Thomas Cook. Sparks will focus on Expotel's growth and evolving the company from a hotel booking agent into a strong travel management company.