Thomson Travel Group development director Charles Newbold is retiring from the company after 25 years.
Newbold has been in charge of acquiring and developing businesses since mid-1997 and was responsible for the purchase of Budget Travel in Ireland, Fritidsresor in Scandinavia, Scan in Poland, and Magic Travel and Simply Travel in the UK.
However, he will be best remembered for his 10-year stint as managing director of Thomson Holidays prior to his current role.
Newbold, who leaves this month, said he will take a break and then become a consultant in the leisure sector. He is keeping his plans under wraps, but said he would not do anything which conflicted with his loyalty to Thomson.
“I’ve been thinking about retiring for many years,” he said. “I’ve been at Thomson for 25 years, so you can’t say I haven’t given it a good go. I won’t disappear from the travel industry, but I don’t envisage working full-time again.
“I’m a great believer in the holiday industry and I want longer holidays.”
Newbold will be replaced on the Thomson board by John Wells, who has been a development consultant to the group since September.