Former colleagues of John Bloodworth have set up a charitable fund in his name after his death from cancer on October 12 aged 62.
The former MyTravel managing director became the first UK chief executive of Thomas Cook UK and Ireland, but left shortly after the merger with MyTravel in 2007 and returned to his native US.
The John Bloodworth Fund, part of the 4Cancer charity, has been set up in his honour and it will host its first UK fundraising event at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on November 11. Two days later a corresponding event will take place in Florida.
This week, former colleagues of Bloodworth who worked for him at MyTravel’s old Rochdale headquarters recounted fond memories.
Peter McHugh, ex-chief executive of MyTravel, said: “If you worked for John, he was supportive and fair. If John worked for you, he was tireless and ready to tackle the most difficult tasks. He always had your back. He was a generous and kind person and an irreplaceable friend.”
Tim Marsden, former group marketing director of MyTravel, said: “He was just genuinely a great man.” Steve Heapy, managing director of Jet2holidays.com, said: “John was a guiding hand in many careers.”
Bloodworth was credited with turning around the fortunes of the ailing MyTravel after his arrival in the UK in 2004 from the US, where he was chief executive of MyTravel USA. Most recently he was a non-executive chairman at Cruise118 and helped engineer the investment by World Travel Holdings (WTH).
Mal Barritt, director of WTH (UK), said: “The world has lost a great man, but his memory will live on.” Bloodworth is survived by his wife, Liana, two sons and two grandchildren.
For more details about the inaugural John Bloodworth Fund event on November 11, email johnbloodworthfund@live.co.uk or vist the John Bloodworth Fund website.