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Thomas Cook digital head steps down to promote book
John Straw, chairman of Thomas Cook’s Digital Advisory Board, has stepped down to launch and promote his book.
Straw will continue to work with Thomas Cook on special projects.
His book, idisrupted, is about how disruptive technology is ‘changing the human race forever’.
It was co-written with Michael Baxter and also contains contributions from Thomas Cook CEO Harriet Green.
On its website, the book says it is for ‘people who want a job in 10 years’ time, employers who want to hire the right talent tor the future and business leaders and shareholders who want the business they run or own to flourish, and not get swept away’.
Announcing his stepping down, Green said: "John has gone to extraordinary lengths to spiritualise digitisation at Thomas Cook.
"His training programmes are legendary and he played a critical role in the development of tools such as our award-winning ‘Wish List’ and in challenging colleagues at all levels across the business to think digitally. I can’t thank him enough for what he has done to drive the digital transformation of Thomas Cook."
Kate Smaje, digital advisor from McKinsey, will assume the leadership of the Digital Advisory Board.
Meanwhile, Thomas Cook has promoted Marco Ryan to become chief innovation officer for Thomas Cook Group.
He will join the Executive Committee, reporting directly to Green.
Ryan was previously head of omni-channel digital marketing and eCommerce, leading the group’s digital transformation in Central Europe.
He joined Thomas Cook Germany in November 2013, having worked previously for Cap Gemini, Accenture and others in the US, Europe and Asia.
He will take up his new role on January 1.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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