Steve Banks will step down as CEO of the Focus Travel Partnership on 31 December 2024
Focus Travel Partnership CEO Steve Banks will leave the
organisation on 31 December to
pursue a new opportunity, it was announced today.
After less than a year in the role at Focus, BTN Europe understands Banks
will join the Human Network in 2025 where he will head up its newly created travel
management division following the company’s acquisition of Beyond Business
Travel in November.
“I am apologetic for the timing of the new opportunity I
have been presented with, but I look forward to remaining part of Focus as a
TMC partner and supporting its continued strategic success,” said Banks.
“Working with Focus has been one of the most rewarding
experiences of my career to date and, with the backing of the strong and highly
knowledgeable Focus team, the partnership will continue to go from strength to
strength,” he added.
Banks has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate travel,
having joined Thomas Cook Travel Management early in his career and subsequently
held roles with Capita Travel and Events which was rebranded as Agiito in 2021
and then acquired by Clarity Business Travel in 2023. He joined the Focus
consortium in June this year.
Focus chair, Bob Schumacher, together with the board of
directors and management team will lead the organisation until a new CEO is
appointed.
“The Focus board and I would like to take this opportunity
to thank Steve for his leadership. Whilst his tenure was shorter than we
anticipated, his contributions to the partnership were valuable, and we are
grateful for his efforts,” said Schumacher.
“It will be business as usual for Focus with our highly
experienced central team continuing to deliver the excellent service and
support our TMC partners and supplier partners expect. The board and I will
fully support the central team as we actively recruit a successor, ensuring
seamless business continuity and ongoing success.”
UK-based Focus
represents more than 50 independent TMCs with a total annual turnover of more
than £1.3 billion. It was ranked as the 10th largest TMC
network in Europe last year.