ABTA slashes chairman’s allowance
ABTA has slashed its chairman’s allowance and given its board of directors the power to oust him.
It was decided at yesterday’s annual general meeting that the chairman’s salary was £5,000 too high compared to similar trade associations so the allowance has been cut from £30,000 to £25,000.
It was also agreed that the board should be able to vote to remove the chairman at any time during his tenure. The chairman will be removed from his or her post if 75% of the board – which currently consists of 10 members – vote in favour.
An ABTA spokeswoman said the chairman’s pay had been benchmarked against other associations and it was felt that £25,000 was a more appropriate figure.
Current chairman John McEwan will stand down this year after completing his term of office and ABTA is seeking nominations for his replacement by May 8. Candidates must be proposed and seconded by current board members.
If there is more than one candidate, ABTA members will be asked to vote for their preferred choice.
Lord Fowler and Andy Cooper have stepped down from their roles as non-executive directors, having both served for two terms of two years.
Doreen MacKenzie of Knock Travel was appointed to the ABTA board today to represent retailers with a turnover of less than £20 million.
Noel Josephides of Sunvil was re-appointed to represent principals with a turn-over of less than £50 million.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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