Hard-hit Lastminute axes chief

ONLINE travel and leisure retailer Lastminute.com has parted company with UK managing director Richard Bowden-Doyle after just nine months.

Lastminute's co-founder and chief executive Brent Hoberman said: 'We decided that it would be better to have one person in charge of retail and one person in charge of the trade side. It then seemed unnecessary to have one person overseeing both those roles.'

John Kent, former chief executive of Med Hotels, acquired by Lastminute in December, takes charge of the retail arm, while Mark Jones, formerly of another Lastminute acquisition, Online Travel Company, takes over the trade division.

Hoberman said: 'We now have two people who understand the nuts and bolts of the business and who have a serious business plan.'

Bowden-Doyle, 43, joined Lastminute in January from Thomas Cook, where he was group development director. Lastminute shares have tumbled from 239p when he was appointed to 127p on Friday.