Triton split not before time
Comment by Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)
It’s been a week of high excitement in the independent sector – at least for us journalists.
While normal people are interested in booking trends and growth plans for the future, we go along with all that boring stuff, but what we really love is a good old fashioned dispute.
We’ve certainly had that this week with Triton.
I’m not going to chew over exactly what happened in that board meeting because I wasn’t there. But I do think that Global chief executive Andrew Botterill was absolutely right to refuse to get into a public slanging match with Advantage chief executive John McEwan. Journalists love it but, in truth, it’s far better to rise above that.
However, when the dust has settled, I think all parties will feel that a split is in the best interests of everyone. The continued whispers about the leadership of Triton needed addressing and at least there is now clarity about who is doing what and everyone can get on with their lives.
There’s no question that McEwan has been in a difficult position since taking over the chairmanship of Triton.
It’s very public knowledge that before the Triton conference in April, he urged Advantage members to boycott the event in favour of its own conference. By the end of the Triton get-together, he was hailed as the new chairman and, not surprisingly in the circumstances, took a lot of stick for that (not least from Travelmole).
From that position, you have to go on to show a big commitment to the organisation you are chairing. Otherwise, you put yourself in an untenable position.
I firmly believe that Triton is an excellent idea. It was formed when the big operators were threatening the livelihood of independent agents and it meant this new super group of retailers could have their own products to sell.
In short, they would never again be at the mercy of the big boys.
McEwan is quoted as saying: “Triton products are not owned. They are Global’s. Triton doesn’t sell anything and we could see no value in staying in.â€
If that’s the case, why did Advantage stay in for so long and why did he want to become chairman? What has suddenly changed?
Anyway, the important thing now, as they say, is the future. Next year is likely to be tough for everyone, so it would be madness for there to be inner conflicts within organisations in that climate. Far better for groups to be united, regardless of their size.
There is bound to be further consolidation in the industry. Personally, I would have thought there is safety in numbers, so it will be interesting to see how Advantage fares now it is on its own.
Jeremy Skidmore
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