After the shock departure of Manny Fontenla-Novoa from Thomas Cook earlier today, news Lastminute.com president Ed Kamm is to leave the online retailer after less than a year in the post.

Sabre subsidiary Travelocity Global – operator of lastminute.com - announced Kamm will be succeeded by Matthew Crummack (pictured), formerly senior vice president of lodging at Expedia.

“After 17 years with Sabre, Travelocity and lastminute.com I have decided that I am ready to continue my career outside the group but leave confident in the knowledge that the business is in good shape and poised to do well in future with the appointment of Matthew Crummack,” Kamm said in a statement.

During his time with the company, Kamm oversaw the launch of a pan-European advertising campaign at lastminute.com as the site sought to position itself as the ultimate online leisure, entertainment and travel retailer.

The campaign was designed to reflect the fact that, while lastminute.com sells a holiday every fifteen minutes, it also now sells a theatre ticket every 26 seconds, a spa break every three minutes and millions of restaurant tables annually, making it more than a traditional online travel agent.

Carl Sparks, president and chief executive of Travelocity Global, added: “I want to thank Ed for his highly-valued leadership and for the continuing progress we have seen at lastminute.com.

“I am delighted that we have an excellent successor in Matthew Crummack. I am very confident that his deep experience in e-commerce, consumer brands, marketing, retail, and online travel make him the perfect leader for the next phase of lastminute.com group’s growth.”