Two ex-Thomson bosses are being drafted in to Neilson following its sale by Thomas Cook to private equity firm Risk Capital Partners.
Richard Bowden-Doyle, former managing director of Thomson Holidays and Lastminute.com, and ex-Thomson and Thomas Cook UK finance chief David Taylor are to join the long-established winter sports and activities operator.
The existing Neilson management team of Pete and Pip Tyler are staying with the business, and will be joined by Bowden-Doyle as executive chairman and Taylor as finance director.
Commenting on the purchase, Luke Johnson (pictured), chairman of Risk Capital Partners, said: “We were attracted by the strength of the Neilson brand, demonstrated by the loyalty of its repeat customers, particularly for the summer BeachClub offer.
“The active holiday sector is growing and ski volumes are set to recover. We believe the business will prosper with access to capital as an independent tour operator.”
Michael Simmonds, who completed the deal on behalf of Risk Capital Partners, and who will join Johnson on the board, said: “‘Relax as hard as you like’ is the perfect strapline for Neilson. Its fans consistently cite the quality of the staff, choice of activities and popular kids’ clubs as the reason they keep coming back.”
Pete Tyler, managing director of Neilson, added: “We have spent some time getting to know Risk Capital Partners and are excited they have decided to invest in this business.
“Their financial strength, business acumen and historic results in the leisure sector will be of huge value to us and we look forward to their support in helping to grow the business”.
Simmonds added: “The travel sector has experienced a tough few years, but with the advent of improving consumer confidence, we believe it is a good time to back specialist, differentiated operators.”
Neilson handled 90,000 holidaymakers on sailing, skiing and beach trips last year and generated revenues of £70 million.