Cheevers to leave Youtravel in management shake-up
Youtravel has announced a further management shake-up, which will lead to the departure of UK managing director Matt Cheevers who took up the role just seven months ago.
Founder and chief executive John Kent said he was going to be more involved in the day-to-day running of the business, so the position of managing director would be dissolved.
He announced the management changes along with the news that the accommodation-only specialist had secured new funding from existing Abu Dhabi shareholders to accelerate its growth.
Kent said he would be actively involved in the sales strategy and implementation, leading the sales team together with head of UK sales Hannah Wheeler and head of commercial Liz Garfield.
David Howell will stay on as group managing director, focusing mainly on finance and investments.
"This new funding will enable us to continue to offer our trade customers excellent prices and availability across a unique range of resort hotels throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. We are committed to the UK trade and my team and I look forward to a strong year ahead with our partners."
Kent said it had been agreed that Cheevers would leave the company at the end of this week. He will be the third senior executive to leave Youtravel in a little over six months. Sales and marketing director Paul Riches left last August along with former group MD Graham Nichols.
"I would like to thank Matt for his contribution over the past 15 months. He leaves with my very best wishes for the future." added Kent.
Neil Bowen will expand his role in the group’s UK sister company, Aquis Hotels and Resorts, and will become a Board Director in Youtravel.com, overseeing the company’s core functions. Bowen will co-operate closely with Kim Deller, Youtravel.com head of operations.
"The restructuring is aligned to three main priorities – to ensure speed and accuracy in decision-making, to enhance sales strategy and implementation and to strengthen the existing business and develop new capabilities," added Kent.
"We will continue to make changes as necessary in order to best meet today’s and future market demanding needs."
By Linsey McNeill
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
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025