Ex-Loveholidays founding investor joins Not Just Travel

A founding investor and board director for OTA Loveholidays has joined Not Just Travel as a non-executive board director. 

Darren Thompson is an entrepreneur and investor specialising in technology, data related services, franchising and travel.

He has more than 30 years experience in banking, venture capital and corporate finance and was instrumental in helping loveholidays become the 10th fastest growing UK private company in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

Thompson is director of Meridian Corporate Finance and will workclosely with Not Just Travel chief financial officer Stephen Badger, who was previously financial director at Mr & Mrs Smith and head of finance at Virgin Media. 

Thompson joins fellow non-executive director Derek Jones, previously chief executive of DER Touristik UK and managing director of Kuoni.

Thompson said: “I believe that now is the right time to help the Not Just Travel team grow to become the UK’s leading travel franchise business. 

“I look forward to helping Not Just Travel improve and develop their corporate structure and policies.”

Co-founder Steve Witt said: “We already have an incredible team who got us where we are today, but we are now elevating our talent above and beyond as we enter our next phase of growth. 

“Together, we are creating a world-class platform for our members to fulfil their potential.”

Co-founder Paul Harrison says: “We strongly believe in the mantra ‘to build the business you build the people’ and we are building the best team. Steve and I have

built a highly successful company from scratch without any external investors. As a result, we are able to attract world-class talent to take the business to the next level.”