Thomas Cook UK finance chief quits for Travelzest
Thomas Cook UK & Ireland chief financial officer Colin McKinlay has quit to join expanding niche travel business Travelzest.
He is not expected to join Travelzest until the end of his notice period lasting until June 1 next year.
McKinlay will become group finance director at the company which floated on the Alternative Investment Market in the autumn and has acquired a number of travel companies, the latest being Best of Morocco.
He previously worked with Travelzest chief executive Chris Mottershead when they were both at MyTravel’s North American Leisure Group.
McKinlay, 36, has been with Thomas Cook since 2004, having previously spent nine years at MyTravel in continental Europe and Canada. He resigned as a director of BOS 2 Limited – previously MyTravel Personal Finance Limited – in August 2003. Administrators were appointed to the company in July 2004.
Mottershead said: “We are delighted that Travelzest has attracted someone of Colin’s calibre. Colin has first rate sector experience at the highest levels across Europe and North America.
“Since Travelzest’s move to AIM in October, the group has acquired Holiday Express and The Best of Morocco. Colin is the perfect candidate to help us deliver our aggressive growth strategy and build a pre-eminent group in the travel industry.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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