Hugh Morgan steps down as Chairman of The Monarch Travel Group

The Monarch Group, the UK’s leading independent travel group, has announced the departure of Hugh Morgan, Chairman of the Monarch Travel Group, after 12 years.

With more than 45 years’ experience in the travel industry, Hugh was appointed Chairman of the Monarch Travel Group in November 2013 and previously held the position of Managing Director from July 2010. He joined the Group in 2002 as Overseas Purchasing and Operations Director for Cosmos Holidays and held director-level positions at Thomas Cook, Sunset Holidays, ILG and Intasun Holidays. Hugh’s tenure as the Managing Director of the Monarch Travel Group saw profitability improve significantly, as well as ensuring the preparation of the business for the future with the introduction of the new core technology platform, Travelbox.

Hugh is a board director of ABTA and in 2009 was recognised for his efforts in furthering tourism to Spain by being awarded the Spanish Order of Civil Merit by Ambassador Carles Casajuana, on behalf of King Juan Carlos. More recently, he was awarded the 2014 Globe Travel Award’s Outstanding Achievement Award where he was described as, ‘One of the industry’s most experienced and respected operators who has taken the time to contribute massively to the governance and further path of the industry as one of its senior statesmen.’

Andrew Swaffield, Chief Executive Officer, The Monarch Group, commented: “Hugh has been a leading figure in the travel industry for many years and I would like to thank him for his significant contribution to the Monarch Travel Group over the last 12 years. We are very lucky to have had such a well-respected and experienced travel professional leading one of our Group companies. Despite only working with him personally for a short period of his long career with us, Hugh has been a pleasure to work with and I know he will be sorely missed. I wish him every success for the future.”

The Monarch Travel Group, part of the same travel group as Cosmos Holidays started business in Bromley 53 years ago and currently sends over 900,000 UK customers on holiday every year.