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Elite Travel Group chairman Wayne Darrock resigns

Elite Travel Group chairman Wayne Darrock has resigned after 12 years in the role.

Fellow board member Bob Lines, director of Knowle Travel in Solihull, has taken over as chairman.

Darrock, the group’s longest-serving chairman, said he had made the decision “with great regret” but felt he had no choice other than to stand down with immediate effect.

He said: “It is with great regret that after many years of being chairman of Elite Travel Group, it is now time for me to resign with immediate effect.

“My mother has been fighting cancer for almost a year and my time at Elite has been limited, other than board meetings.”

Darrock said he was asked to continue with support from other board members, but said he was then left with “no alternative but to resign” over a perceived “lack of respect and consideration” in the last week.

He did not go into further detail, but added: “I want to thank each and every one of the members for all their support over the years.

“I am honoured to have been the longest-serving chairman of this great consortium and I know they will understand my family has to take priority.

“I wish them all every success for the future.”

Darrock, whose mother is currently in hospital, was unavailable for further comment.

Lines, who has taken over as chairman with immediate effect and has been on the board for around 18 years, said: “We wish Wayne all the very best. He has done a good job as chairman and we are very sorry to lose him.

“As a board we will always do what we consider is the right thing for our members, staff and the Elite consortium.”

Former board member Lynne Kirby, managing director of Enable Holidays, has been asked to rejoin the board and has accepted, he added, and the consortium is in the process of updating members on the latest changes. Kirby previously served on Elite’s board from 2016 to 2021.

The group reduced the size of the board in recent years and now has three directors, including the chairman.

 

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