Central England Co-op travel bosses step down after Midcounties takeover
Two key figures at Central England Co-operative travel have left after steering the business through a successful transfer to Midcounties Co-operative.
Former Central England Co-operative Head of Travel Paul Dale and former Sales and Marketing Manager Louise Renyard will leave Midcounties next week in a mutually agreed departure.
The pair joined Midcounties Co-operative in August 2020, when the transfer agreement for 16 Central England Co-operative travel shops was finalised.
Over the past 11 weeks they have helped to support the successful integration of the former Central England Co-operative travel shops into the Midcounties Co-operative family and will leave the business at the end of October.
Rad Sofronijevic, Chief Operating Officer of Midcounties Co-operative’s travel division, said: "We’d like to thank Paul and Louise for their commitment and dedication these past few months. What they have achieved in this short space of time – getting the former Central England Co-operative travel teams settled into our family and integrating the branches into the Midcounties retail estate – has been outstanding.
"The support they have provided to Midcounties Co-operative has been invaluable and their positive contribution to the travel industry will have a lasting impact. They will be greatly missed, and we wish them the very best for the future."
Paul Dale who was head of travel for Central England Co-operative for more than 20 years said: "I’m extremely thankful for all the opportunities that being part of a Co-op has given me over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed my travel journey.
"I’m excited about what the next chapter may hold for me and am very pleased for my Central England Co-operative colleagues who have integrated really well into the Midcounties Co-operative team. It’s a great brand and, when travel recovers, they will be in a strong position to take advantage."
By Lisa James, Deputy Editor (UK)
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt