FORMER
British Airways chief executive Bob Ayling is set to join camping specialist
Holidaybreak as chairman.
Ayling
will initially join as a non-executive director in February but will take on
the chairman’s role when Angus Crichton-Miller steps down in June.
Ayling
is well known for his time at BA, which came to an end in 2000. During his time
with the airline he undertook a number of steps to increase direct sales and
scrapped commission payments to agents in favour of sector fees.
Crichton-Miller
said: “He is a very experienced businessman, some might say a marginally
scarred businessman, although I would see that as a good thing. He certainly
understands the travel and holiday business.”
Ayling’s
appointment was announced as Holidaybreak published its results for the year
ending September 30. Pre-tax profit was £27.1 million, up 13.7% on the previous
year while turnover was 13.6% up on 2001 at £218.7 million.