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Second Traveltek co-founder to leave business
Traveltek co-founder Stewart Chesterton has decided to leave the business, a few weeks after CEO Kenny Picken announced he will retire.
Chesterton, who is product director, set up Traveltek with Picken and Richard Smith.
Picken announced in January that he will retire within the coming months, while Smith, who is chief architect, will remain within the business.
The trio founded Traveltek in 2002 after noticing a gap in the market for a modular-based system to help travel companies to operate more efficiently and profitably.
Starting with just five employees, the Glasgow head-quartered firm now employs more than 130 staff in offices across the world.
It has over 400 clients, operating across 35 countries, transacting more than $11 billion in booking value through its platform each year.
In a message sent to staff, recently appointed Traveltek chairman Chris Noblet said: "Stewart has been a tremendous asset to Traveltek.
"He has been with the company for over 16 years and has played an instrumental role in building what has gone on to become one of the industry’s most widely used software solutions.
"I would like to take this opportunity, first and foremost, to thank Stewart for his hard work and dedication.
"He leaves behind a powerful and robust platform that we will continue to grow and build on."
The announcement of a new CEO to replace Picken will follow soon.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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