Former Midlands Co-op Travel general manager Ken Smith has resigned from Thomas Cook and left the company with immediate effect.
Smith was one of the senior executives in the retail joint venture The Co-operative Travel struck with Thomas Cook that was given regulatory approval last year.
This saw the two high street retailers form the largest retail chain in the UK consisting of over 1,200 stores.
Midlands Co-op was the junior partner in the deal bringing its 100 stores to the table and Smith was made the group’s commercial and marketing director.
Confirming his resignation Simon Robinson, chief executive of Thomas Cook Coop Travel, said:
“I’d like to thank Ken for the role he has played in helping to bring our businesses together and moving the integration forward since the joint venture was established just six months ago.
“Originally from Midlands Co-op Travel, Ken was a staunch supporter of the joint venture from the start and was integral to the process of gaining regulatory approval to complete the deal.”
The retail joint venture is majority-owned by Thomas Cook, which will pay a guaranteed dividend of £10 million a year to the Co-operative Group.