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Former Kuoni boss Derek Jones set to stay in industry

Former Der Touristik UK chief executive Derek Jones is set to stay working in the sector – and has appealed for ideas on travel-related businesses for next year.

The former UK Kuoni boss left last week after more than a decade at the helm. Although no specific reason was given for his departure, it is understood he wanted time off with his family.

His departure was said to be amicable.

He remains on the Abta board of directors and as chairman of charity Abta LifeLine and in a tweet this week said he would “still be very much involved in travel”.

For the next few months he said he was going on a family holiday to Greece as well as “campervanning”, doing gardening, DIY and “generally mooching around”.

But in a tongue-in-cheek reference to his plans for next year, he tweeted: “If anyone has any cracking travel related business ideas that I can get stuck into next year, you know where to find me!”

In the same thread he tweeted his thanks to colleagues and friends in the sector for their “wonderful messages” following his decision to leave the tour operating and travel agency group. He added: “This is an amazing industry to be part of.”

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