Thomas Cook's UK chief checks out

The head of Thomas Cook's UKdivision has departed after 11 years at the troubled tour operator, just a week after its group chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa quit.

The company, which has warned on profits three times this year, said Ian Derbyshire had left the UK retail chief executive role to join hisfamily's child-activity business.

Mr Derbyshire decided to leave earlier this year but he stayed while the Competition Commission looked at its merger with the Co-operative Group's high-street travel business.