New CEO for Thomas Cook UK
Ian Ailles is returning to Thomas Cook to take up the position of chief executive officer of its UK mainstream business.
Ailles was previously finance director for the group but left four years ago to join Wyndham Worldwide.
Ian Derbyshire, formerly CEO for the UK business, is moving into an enlarged role as CEO for the joint venture with Co-op Travel.
A CEO for independent travel has yet to be announced.
Ailles will start in his new role on January 8, taking responsibility for the company’s mainstream charter tour operations – Thomas Cook, Airtours, Direct Holidays, Sunset and Manos – and its 43-strong airline fleet.
He will report directly to Group CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa, based in the company’s Peterborough head office.
The operator has just cut 126 management roles at its head office.
At Wyndham, Ailles is managing director at holiday exchange and rental firm RCI Group.
He is also currently chairman of the Federation of Tour Operators.
By Bev Fearis
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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