Tributes have been paid to travel industry executive, investor and consultant Michael East, who has died after a period of illness.
The news of his death was confirmed by his wife Christine, who said: “With broken hearts, myself and the East family announce the death of my beloved husband, Michael East.”
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Hall of Fame member East founded, led and invested in a number of leading companies within the travel industry, and was most recently a strategic consultant, advising and representing banks, investment houses and UK travel companies.
A qualified accountant, he started his career at Clarksons Holidays in 1969, eventually becoming group financial director before joining Horizon Holidays.
After a period in Singapore, he returned to the UK to found a travel industry consultancy company, and in 1986 founded Argyle Executive Recruitment.
He was later managing director of Kingley Event Management Solutions and daily travel newsletter e-tid.com before their acquisition in 2014 by Travel Weekly parent Travel Weekly Group, now Jacobs Media, of which he was a founding shareholder.
Jacobs Media owner and chairman Clive Jacobs said: “This is an incredibly sad day for me and the entire travel industry. Michael understood the industry intimately and was able to both advise and bring together its leaders with authority and gravitas.
“He had a great eye for talent and created some of the industry’s premier events such as the Hall of Fame and the Agent Achievement Awards, which I am proud now sit within the Jacobs Media portfolio of companies.
“On a personal level Michael was like a second father who guided me through the many ups and downs of my industry entrepreneurial journey. It was Michael who reached out to me when Travel Weekly was about to be discarded and he became a valued founder shareholder and board member of Jacobs Media some 15 years ago.”
Jacobs added: “Michael will be sorely missed by me, my team and all those who worked with him during his illustrious time in our industry.
“Our thoughts are with his family and in particular his remarkable wife Christine who was at his side and supported him so bravely in the final years of his life.”
A private, family funeral will be held in the coming weeks, with a memorial celebration to be held later. The family has requested no flowers but donations can be made to Parkinsons UK on this link.