Chris Nixon to leave TravelSupermarket for ‘sabbatical’

Chris Nixon, managing director of TravelSupermarket, is to leave company for a career break of up to 12 months – but is unlikely to return to travel meta search. Nixon, who was due to step down as managing director to head up the company’s commercial department, said he had since decided to take an extended…

Chris Nixon, managing director of TravelSupermarket, is to leave company for a career break of up to 12 months – but is unlikely to return to travel meta search.

Nixon, who was due to step down as managing director to head up the company’s commercial department, said he had since decided to take an extended sabbatical after six years with the company.

The break is expected to last between six and 12 months, include an extended overseas trip and the possibility of further education at a leading MBA establishment such as London Business School or Harvard.

Nixon, 35, said the MoneySupermarket board authorised his leave of absence last week and have agreed to allow him to return to the business at the end of the break.

However, Nixon said if he returns to the company he hoped to come back away from the TravelSupermarket division in a “strategy, entrepreneurial or start-up role”.

“My forte lies in starting up businesses and it’s a different kettle of fish running a city-listed company,” he added.

The sabbatical is likely to begin in the middle of 2008, once a new managing director for TravelSupermarket is appointed.

Nixon’s brother Simon is chief executive of MoneySupermarket, parent company of TravelSupermarket, which prepares this week to announce its first financial results since floating on the London Stock Exchange last July.

The travel division of MoneySupermarket saw revenues increase by 100% between 2006 and 2007 to £15 million. Travel’s overall contibution to the company revenues has also increased from 7% to 9%.