Advantage in no hurry to find new CEO

Advantage Travel Centres says it will take its time to find a replacement for its CEO John McEwan who will retire at the end of this month.

Sales and marketing director Colin O’Neill said the group had not yet decided whether to appoint a new CEO and would not rush the decision.

"It certainly won’t be before the end of the current financial plan, which is the end of September," he said.

In the immediate future, the Advantage executive directors – Julia Lo Bue-Said, Ken McLeod, and O’Neill – will manage the business on a day-to-day basis.

Advantage chairman Ron Marks will oversee the activities of the central team on behalf of the membership.

Marks said: "As the team has been instrumental in creating and delivering the current three-year plan, there is no obvious imperative to change the current operating structure."

McEwan has been inundated with messages from industry friends and colleagues since announcing his retirement on Friday.

The 66-year-old, who has been with Advantage for eight years, said he wants to spend more time with his family after recently becoming a grandfather and with a second grandchild on the way.

But he said he doesn’t want to leave the industry completely and would like to find a non-executive position.

He has already had two offers, but would not disclose details.

"I have had quite a lot of approaches over the years but there has always been a conflict of interest with Advantage, but that conflict of interest has now been removed," he said.

"I would like to get a new life balance but at the same time remain engaged with the travel industry in an advisory or non-exec role, but it won’t be with Advantage. I think it’s important for me to have the break and allow the board and the management team to get on with business without me appearing to be looking over their shoulders."

His announcement coincides with his decision to step down from the role of ABTA Chairman, a position he has held for the last four years.

It was also timed to come just before the group’s conference next month. McEwan will not attend the event on May 9-12.

"What I didn’t want to do is go into the conference with the knowledge that I was going to be stepping down," he said.

"It wouldn’t help the conference if I was there. It’s all about looking to the future of Advantage and I won’t be part of that future."

He said his decision to retire wasn’t a sudden one.

"Phycially it’s been a hectic period with my roles at Advantage and at ABTA. I’ve been thinking about this for some time, particularly over recent weeks while I have been on leave. Some of the messages I’ve had from industry friends have expressed surprise – I think some of them thought I would go on forever – but I have been with the industry for 50 years and it’s the right time for me to retire."

by Bev Fearis