Following Allan Leighton’s announcement today that he is stepping down from a number of his Non-Executive roles including lastminute.com plc the Company has announced that Brian Collie, currently a Non-Executive Director, will take over as Non-Executive Chairman when Allan leaves in January 2005. Brian Collie joined the Board of lastminute.com in February 2000 and is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. He is currently BAA plc’s main board director responsible for £3 billion global retail and e-commerce sales per annum and recently announced he would be leaving BAA around the end of the year to pursue other interests. This change will enable him to spend more time with lastminute.com when he succeeds Allan Leighton.

Brent Hoberman, CEO and co-founder of lastminute.com said: “Allan has done an excellent job for us, leading the Board through an exciting and challenging growth period and we are sorry to see him go. However, we are delighted that Brian is in place and ready to take over next year. He has been with lastminute.com almost since inception and is held in high regard by both the Board and the executive team. His experience at BAA, combined with his knowledge of the retail, travel and tourism markets, will be invaluable as we roll out the next phase of the lastminute.com strategy.”

Allan Leighton, Chairman of lastminute.com said: “Being involved with lastminute.com for the past 4 years has been enormously rewarding, with the Company growing sales from £34m in 2000 to forecast £1.1bn in 2004, and seeing it become a leader in its sector. I believe now is the right time in lastminute.com’s evolution for me to hand over to Brian and I am confident he will lead the Group in its continuing mission to delight customers with great deals for all their travel and leisure needs. I wish Brian, Brent and the lastminute.com team every success for the future.”
Brian Collie, Chairman Designate of lastminute.com said: “I am pleased to take on the role of Chairman of lastminute.com plc when Allan steps down in the New Year. Having joined the Board in February 2000 I’ve been involved in all major strategy decisions during the Company’s key period of growth and am now looking forward to the next exciting stage in its development.”
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