Mike Greenacre has been appointed managing director of the newly-formed Co-operative Travel Group following the final approval for a merger of Travelcare and United Co-op.
Greenacre, currently group general manager of United Co-op’s travel operation, will also continue as chief operating officer for the Co-operative Travel Trading Group.
But the merger will result in Travelcare managing director Amanda Williams’ departure at the end of July. It is understood she has no new job to go to. Martin Beaumont, group chief executive of the Co-operative Group, will retire at the end of July.
The Co-operative Travel Group, which will come into being on July 29, will have a £1 billion turnover and a network of 450 travel branches, as well as other travel businesses such as homeworking business Future Travel and call centre Cumbria Cruise Club.
There are plans to rebrand all travel agencies as Co-operative Travel, which is already being adopted by Travelcare agents.
A spokesman added: “This is a merger of two strong organisations and will help us compete more effectively as one with a much stronger, and eventually common, brand across the high-street.”
United Co-operatives chief executive Peter Marks will become chief executive of the overall merged group.