UK. Sim Local, a prominent SIM provider in the travel sector, has appointed former WHSmith Singapore General Manager Ian Rankin as its Chief Trading Officer.
Rankin’s appointment, effective immediately, sees him take on a remit to accelerate his new employer’s international expansion. His brief is to enhance Sim Local’s existing retail offer and he also takes on responsibility for its supplier relationships globally.
During his six-year stint with WHSmith Singapore, Rankin held four senior positions before becoming General Manager in March 2020, when he took on responsibility for building the presence and profitability of the retailer’s business across South East Asia.
Earlier in his career, he occupied buying positions with major UK retailers Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Sim Local Chief Operating Officer Andrew McClellan said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Ian to Sim Local. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role, which will be vital as we continue to strengthen our international network of stores and develop supplier relationships across the globe.”
Rankin said: “I am delighted to be joining Sim Local at such an exciting time in their journey. The opportunity for significant growth is clear and I look forward to helping bring the Sim Local brand to new markets, capitalising on the imminent restart of international travel and travellers’ need to stay connected whilst abroad.”
Sim Local now has points of sale for its local SIM card offering at over 150 locations worldwide. Customers can purchase SIM cards from the company’s travel affiliates such as WHSmith and InMotion, as well as from Sim Local stores and vending machines located in airports globally.
