Thomas Cook has promoted Pete Constanti and Ian Derbyshire to run its mainstream and independent businesses in the UK and Ireland as part of a management restructure.
Constanti becomes chief executive of the mainstream travel business for the UK and Ireland and Derbyshire becomes chief executive of independent travel for the UK and Ireland with immediate effect. Both will report into group chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa.
The group said the move formed part of its four-pronged strategy to maximise the value of the mainstream business; become a leading independent travel provider; be a leading travel-related financial services provider; and grow the company’s value through mergers and acquisitions.
Fontenla-Novoa said: “Both [Constanti and Derbyshire] are passionate about what they do, have proven track records and have very ambitious plans for the future of the business.”
Mainstream travel still generates the majority of the company’s revenues and profits. Constanti will be responsible for the vertically-integrated operations, including sales, tour operations and airline activities.
Thomas Cook also hopes to strengthen its position in the fast-growing independent travel sector and recently acquired Hotels4U and Elegant Resorts. Derbyshire will have responsibility for the company’s specialist brands Thomas Cook Signature, Neilson, Sunworld Holidays, Club 18-30, Elegant Resorts, Hotels4U, Flexibletrips, Cresta, Swiss Travel Service and Thomas Cook Sport.