Tributes pour in for Ian Mounser

Former Superbreak sales director Ian Mounser has died at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer.

Mounser, who retired from Superbreak in 2011 after 22 years with the operator, passed away on Tuesday.

He leaves behind a wife Elizabeth and son Stephen. Details of his funeral have not yet been announced.

Mounser was a highly popular figure in the travel industry, partly thanks to his hilarious fancy dress double acts with his friend and colleague SuperBreak national sales manager Graham Balmforth at the annual Advantage Travel conferences.

"Ian was a true gentleman, meticulous in his work ethic, just as happy in the boardroom as he was in the bar once the work had been done," said Balmforth.

"He earned respect from his peers for his honesty, hard work, and ‘half pint full’ attitude.
 
"The Advantage Dine a Rounds began a series of various themes over the years which involved us dressing up, and for those who knew Ian, this initially was completely out of character, but as each one progressed he threw himself into various roles with gusto. I will never forget us both dressed in drag, as Patsy and Eddy (Absolutely Fabulous) in a restaurant waiting for our travel agency guests, when he turned to me and said ‘Can you believe we are doing this?’.
 
"I had the pleasure of working with Ian for over 15 years and have been heartened to read all the tributes and messages over the last 24 hours from his friends and colleagues within the industry, and I know Elizabeth and Stephen have been too."
 
Another industry friend Tom Knopek, former Hertz boss and now group MD of technology group PPA, added: "Ian Mounser was an honourable man. Not only was he a credit to Superbreak, but he was also a credit to the travel industry  He represented both with dignity.

"I will miss his dry sense of humour, he brought a smile to many an audience. I will miss playing golf with him, I will even miss losing a fiver to him every time we played. 

"But I will remember Ian for his consistency, regardless of the circumstances, he was the same man every time I met him, trustworthy, reliable, funny, a real gentleman with a great attitude to life
God Bless you Ian Mounser – the world is a poorer place without you."

Angus Chisholm of C&M Recruitment said Mounser was ‘a really great great guy to spend time with’.

"Fun, generous and a great golfer to boot as well as being a serious industry leader with real credibility, drive, generosity and success in abundance. He was hugely respected for his professionalism, character, commercial skills as well as his loyalty and longevity at the top. He will be very sadly missed by many," he said.

Advantage MD Julia Lo Bue-Said also paid tribute: "Words cannot adequately describe the true gentleman and all round wonderful person that was Ian Mounser. My heartfelt condolences go to Elizabeth and Stephen and I do hope they can take some comfort in the fact that Ian had many friends in the travel industry all of whom will miss him greatly."
 
Former Advantage chief executive John McEwan said: "Ian was always congenial, fun and the consummate professional. He always commanded the utmost respect yet, importantly, he was universally liked too.

"Ian together with partner in crime at Superbreak, Graham Balmforth, were hilarious at Advantage conferences with their double act. Whether it was impersonating Pavorotti or ABBA, they were superb!

"We will miss Ian and my sincere condolences go to his wife, Elizabeth, son Stephen and his family and friends."

After retiring from Superbreak in 2011, Mounser set up his own management development and training consultancy.