Wendy Wu Tours managing director Laurence Hicks has insisted he will remain in travel when he steps down from his role later this month.
Hicks revealed last week that he would be leaving his position on March 20, after four and a half years with the business, although he said he would continue to “support and undertake some special projects” for Wendy Wu until April 20.
Hicks said in a statement that the time was right for him to leave the operator: “The business is about to go live with its new online booking system and over the coming months there will be a transition to a completely new way of working and engaging with our customers and commercial partners,” he said.
“With all that in mind, having brought the traditional business to this point, I have decided that the transition to a new-style, new-look e-commerce business requires different leadership with different skill sets and experience.”
Speaking to TTG this week, Hicks said: “The business needs a different pair of hands – there are a lot of things on the horizon and the business will need someone with more of a tech background.
“There’s a lot happening, with their [Wendy Wu’s] three-year growth Drap plan [double revenue and profit], which the global business has been working towards. I’ve doubled the business here and delivered a substantial increase in Ebitda [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation] – it’s good to go out on a high.”
He added: “Wendy [Wu] and I have a very good relationship and will remain very good friends.”
Hicks insisted that he would remain in the sector after leaving the business.
“I’ll be back. I won’t be sitting idle for the next five years – it’s not in my blood,” he said. “I definitely will remain in travel – there are other things on the horizon.”
He said he was not able to disclose what these “things” were, but said more details would be revealed soon.