MD leaves YouTravel
Youtravel group managing director Graham Nichols has stepped down just a month after sales and marketing director Paul Riches left the company.
In a statement released today, the company said Nichols was leaving for personal reasons, including the extensive travel between the company's offices in the UK and Athens.
He has been with the company for three years. He has left immediately.
Nichols will be replaced by non-executive director David Howell, who joined the Youtravel board earlier this year. He was previously group finance director at lastminute.com and First Choice.
Matt Cheevers, whose role was expanded to include sales and marketing following Riches departure, will continue his responsibilities for UK and international sales but now also takes on the role of UK managing director. Cheevers will report into Howell.
Nichols said: “I am delighted to have been part of the Youtravel story and wish all my friends and colleagues there every success for the future.”
Chief executive and founder of the Youtravel Group, John Kent, added: “I would like to thank Graham for his contribution over the past three years. He leaves with my very best wishes for the future.”
In the new structure, Kent will take on more involvement in the running of the Youtravel Group as his other business interest, Aquis Hotels and Resorts, is now fully established, said the company.
It said this will allow the group to fully utilise Kent's knowledge of the bedbank sector from his time creating and growing Medhotels. Kent, Howell and Cheevers all previously worked together at lastminute.com.
Youtravel also announced today that it is moving from Guildford in Surrey to central London to be closer to its key customers, suppliers and financial institutions. From October 1, it will be based in Victoria.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025