A leading figure in the travel industry has been named as the new chief executive of Lowestoft- based Hoseasons Holiday Group. Richard Carrick, formerly the chief executive of MyTravel's global development division, is to succeed managing director Ken Gaylard, who announced his intention of retiring when he led a management buyout of Hoseasons in June.

A leading figure in the travel industry has been named as the new chief executive of Lowestoft- based Hoseasons Holiday Group.

Richard Carrick, formerly the chief executive of MyTravel's global development division, is to succeed managing director Ken Gaylard, who announced his intention of retiring when he led a management buyout of Hoseasons in June.

In 1999 Mr Gaylard and his management team bought the business for £22m from founder James Hoseason with the help of venture capitalists ECI Partners.

In June he completed a second buyout valuing the business at £40m with the support of HgCapital, allowing ECI Partners to exit the business.

More than 550 people work for Hoseasons, which sells more than a million holidays a year in lodges, cottages, holiday parks and boats in Britain, Ireland and Europe.

Mr Carrick was made redundant by the troubled MyTravel Group in December last year when its global development division was disbanded.

MyTravel is currently in talks with bondholders in an effort to secure its future after seeing the impact of the US terror attacks and accounting problems force it into the red.

Since being made redundant, Mr Carrick has been considering offers from a number of organisations but has opted to join Hoseasons.

"I was keen to join Hoseasons not only because of its leadership status in the UK self-catering sector, which is currently experiencing real growth, but also because the company is run in the way I believe companies should be," he said. "It has a strong focus on meeting customer needs through partnership between suppliers, staff and travel agents.

"I see the UK tourism market, particularly the self-catering sector, as one offering enormous growth potential.

"Many people take several short breaks in the UK during the course of the year and there is tremendous scope for us to extend this, both in terms of the number of holidays and the number of nights."

Mr Carrick, who has already taken up his new role, will be moving his family to Norwich.

Mr Gaylard, who will be retiring in the next few months, said it was an exciting time for Hoseasons.

"We believed it was important that my successor was someone who understands the industry, is respected by his peers and has a proven track record," he said.

"Richard Carrick more than satisfies these criteria and, in fact, has shown his own commitment to the business by investing in the recent management buyout."

Mr Carrick spent almost 10 years at MyTravel and Airtours, its previous name. His previous roles include managing director of Airtours Holidays and chief executive officer of MyTravel UK.

He has also held senior roles at Forte Hotels and Restaurants, Saga Holidays, ILG and Intasun.