| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 05/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 72 |
| Copyright: Other |
Operator drops product and quits ski-schools market
Thomson axes Magic brands in restructure
Report by STEVEJONES
Report by STEVEJONES
THOMSON has axed three Magic Travel Group brands and withdrawn from the ski-schools market as part of a restructure of its specialist operators.The move follows the completion of a three-month review by specialist holidays group managing director Andy Perrin.
He claimed virtually all staff have been retained or found alternative roles.
Magic of France, Magic Cities and its flight-only operation have all been dropped to concentrate on its core destinations of Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Former Simply Travel sales and operations director Paul Bradley has been appointed joint MD of both Simply and Magic.
Perrin stressed the move was not a forerunner to a merger of the two operators.
“Magic should be performing far better but merging companies just does not work and there are plenty of examples to prove the point,” said Perrin. “We are not going to make the same mistake. Brand integrity is key to the success of the business and Magic is a terrific brand.”
The shake-up has also seen the departure of Magic commercial director Richard Nealon who becomes group brand manager at Thomson Travel Group.
Former Magic MD Joanna Edmunds and marketing and service delivery director Helen Baker have already left.
Perrin also decided to drop Crystal’s ski school programme, claiming it was too labour intensive.
To streamline the specialist division, finance, human resources, information technology, commercial and aviation departments have all been centralised.
Perrin said the operators were previously split “pillar to post” across the group.
Meanwhile, former Simply Travel MD Steve Rushton will leave the company at the end of this month after having spent the last three months as director of change.
“The role came to a natural end and Steve decided to go his own way,” said Perrin.