United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Bowden-Doyle goes in Lastminute restructure
Lastminute.com UK managing director Richard Bowden-Doyle is leaving the company in a restructure.
His departure at the end of the month comes as the online travel group “flattens” its management structure creating four distinct divisions.
The changes come after a flurry of acquisitions, including Holiday Autos, Med Hotels, Online Travel Corporation and First Option.
Group chief operating officer Ian McCaig said discussions had been held with Mr Bowden-Doyle, former managing director of Thomson Holidays, about how to get the best out of lastminute’s range of brands while also taking the business forward during a period of integration.
“Having a UK managing director position was going to slow the processes down. It was just a no-win situation,” he told TravelMole.
Under the new structure, former MedHotels boss John Kent takes over as retail md, OTC chief executive Mark Jones will be responsible for trade-focussed and business-to-business.
Holiday Autos md Mat Hart is promoted to marketing and commercial director for lastminute.com UK from October 4.
Andrew Windsor takes on business travel, building on accounts inherited from the OTC and First Option takeovers.
Doug Sawers, former deputy CEO of Holiday Autos, becomes md, group operations, overseeing growth in the UK as well as across all lastminute.com group’s international markets.
Lopo Champalimaud becomes lifestyle md, responsible for the lifestyle product portfolio in the UK and its strategic direction around Europe.
New recruit Brian Murphy takes over at Holiday Autos, having held positions with Hertz, Thomas Cook, American Express and most recently ActiveHotels.com.
“I wouldn’t banner this as a cost-saving thing. We will get the cost efficiencies previously announced at the operating level,” said Mr McCaig.
“Recent acquisitions have taken our UK business to scale but have also made our organisation more complex. Following the busy summer season we are now entering a period of integration and consolidation to help us build for the future.
“We now plan to bring all elements of our UK business together in a practical way to make sure that we stay the most dynamic and innovative company in the sector. We’ve established four key business areas which will be headed up by some of the experienced individuals already in the company.”
Meanwhile, Alan Barber, a former partner with accountancy firm KPMG, has become a non-executive director of lastminute.com.
He has also been appointed chairman of the company’s audit committee.
Mr Barber, who worked at KPMG for 35 years until May, held a number of senior management and client positions within the organisation covering sectors including travel and retail.
Lastminute.com chairman Allan Leighton said: “We are delighted to welcome Alan as an additional non-executive director. He brings 35 years of strategic and global financial experience that will be of great value.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled