Title: Non-Executive Chairman
Appointment: March 2007
Committee membership: Chairman of Nominations Committee.
Skills & experience: Michael Beckett was appointed Chairman of the Company in September 2009, prior to which he was Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director. He was Chairman of MyTravel Group plc between 2004 and 2007. Other positions previously held include Chairman of London Clubs International plc, Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited and Clarkson plc, and he was formerly Managing Director of Consolidated Gold Fields plc.
External appointments: Non-Executive Chairman of Endeavour Financial Corporation (Canada); Non-Executive Director of Northam Platinum Ltd (South Africa), Orica Ltd (Australia), The Egypt Trust (Luxembourg), Mvelaphanda Resources Limited (South Africa) and Petroamerica Oil Corp. (Canada).
Title: Chief Executive Officer, Northern Europe & Deputy to the Group Chief Executive Officer
Appointment: November 2009
Committee membership: Member of Group Executive Board.
Skills & experience: Sam Weihagen has 34 years’ experience in the travel industry. He was appointed Deputy to the Group Chief Executive Officer in November 2009 and has held the role of Chief Executive Officer, Northern Europe since 2001. He was the former MyTravel Northern Europe Chief Executive and was an Executive Director of MyTravel Group plc for three years prior to the merger. He has served the Company in several capacities, including Commercial Director, with responsibility for purchasing and flight planning.
External appointments: Chairman of the Tour Operating Federation in Sweden.
Title: Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment: March 2007
Committee membership: Chairman of Health, Safety & Environmental Committee, Member of Audit Committee, Nominations Committee and Management Development & Remuneration Committee.
Skills & experience: Roger Burnell was a Non-Executive Director of MyTravel Group plc from April 2003. Before joining MyTravel, he was Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Thomson Travel Group plc. Other previous board experience includes Chairman of The First Resort Limited, Chairman of International Life Leisure Group Limited and Chairman of Home Form Group Limited.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of Coventry Building Society.
Title: Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment: August 2008
Committee membership: Chairman of Management Development & Remuneration Committee and Member of Nominations Committee.
Skills & experience: Nigel Northridge was Chief Executive of Gallaher Group Plc for seven years until April 2007. Over his 30-year career with the Gallaher Group he held a range of senior positions in general management and sales & marketing roles.
External appointments: Non-Executive Chairman of Paddy Power plc; Senior Independent Director of Aggreko plc and Non-Executive Director of Inchcape plc.
Title: Group Chief Executive Officer
Appointment: July 2007
Committee membership: Chairman of Group Executive Board, Member of Health, Safety & Environmental Committee.
Skills & experience: Manny Fontenla-Novoa joined the Company in 1996 following the acquisition of Sunworld, which was then the UK’s fourth largest tour operator. He was a founding director of Sunworld and has 30 years’ experience in the travel industry. He has held senior management positions within the Group, latterly as Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Cook AG.
External appointments: Director of Mediterranean Touristic Management, a joint venture between Thomas Cook Destinations GmbH and Iberostar Hoteles y Apartamentos S.L.
Title: Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment: March 2007
Committee membership: Chairman of Audit Committee, Member of Nominations Committee and Health, Safety & Environmental Committee.
Skills & experience: David Allvey was a Non-Executive Director of MyTravel Group plc between 2003 and 2007. Prior to this he was Group Finance Director of Barclays Bank plc, B.A.T Industries plc and was Group Chief Operating Officer for Zurich Financial Services AG.
External appointments: Chairman of Costain Group PLC and Arena Coventry Ltd; Senior Independent Director of both Intertek Group plc and William Hill plc.
Title: Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment: July 2007
Committee membership: Member of Audit Committee, Nominations Committee and Management Development & Remuneration Committee.
Skills & experience: Between 1992 and 1998 Bo Lerenius was Chief Executive of the then listed company, Stena Line, and between 1998 and 1999 he was Vice Chairman of Stena Line and Director of New Business at Stena AB. From 1985 to 1992 he was Group President and Chief Executive of Swedish listed building materials group, Ernstromgruppen. He was Group Chief Executive of Associated British Ports Holdings Plc between 1999 and 2007.
External appointments: Chairman of Mouchel Plc and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK; Non-Executive Director of G4S plc, Land Securities Group plc, Ittur Group (Sweden) and Rorvik Timber (Sweden). He is an advisor to the infrastructure fund of Swedish venture capital group, EQT.
New appointments
On 29 November 2009, it was agreed that Paul Hollingworth would be appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 January 2010. On the same day, it was agreed that Peter Middleton would be appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director, with effect from 30 November 2009. Biographical details for both Directors can be found in the AGM Notice and on the Company’s website www.thomascookgroup.com.
