Thos Cook’s Bennett to leave

Tony Bennett, Thomas Cook strategic marketing & development director for Europe, is leaving the company after turning down a senior management role within the group’s worldwide travellers cheque business.

Bennett’s resignation comes after the appointment of management consultant Dido Harding as head of marketing to replace Fiona Ferguson who left to join Sears chain Millets (MW February 24).

Bennett says his decision to resign follows a restructure within the company after the sale of its Travel Management business.

“The restructure involves moving away from a geographic structure to a product-based structure concentrating on leisure travel, foreign exchange and travellers cheques. My geographic role has disappeared and I don’t see myself working within the business-to-business sector, which is what I was offered,” adds Bennett.

The new structure is effective from March 1 and underpins Thomas Cook’s strategy of developing its core business, moving away from its former regional divisions.

Bennett leaves the company on March 17. He says the company is looking for someone to take up the senior management role which he turned down.