Thomas Cook Regulatory News (TCG)

22 Dec 2008 11:11



Thomas Cook Group plc - Changes to the Board

Thomas Cook Group plc (the "Company") announces that Dr Karl-Gerhard Eick will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from today, 22 December 2008. He will be a member of the Audit & Risk Management Committee, Management Development & Remuneration Committee and the Nominations Committee.

Karl-Gerhard Eick was nominated by Arcandor AG, the Company's major shareholder, and will replace Peter Diesch who will stand down from the Board of the Company with effect from today.

Karl-Gerhard Eick has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Arcandor AG with effect from 1 March 2009. He has been Chief Financial Officer of Deutsche Telekom since 2000 and has been a member of that company's Board of Management since 1999. He has been Deputy Chairman of the Board since 2004. Prior to this, he held various positions at BMW AG in Munich and senior finance positions at WMF AG, Geislingen, Carl Zeiss group, Oberkochen, and Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH in Duisburg. 

Commenting on the appointment, the Company's Chairman, Dr Thomas Middelhoff said "The Board is pleased to appoint Karl-Gerhard Eick to the Board as his extensive experience will add value to its deliberations in the future. The Board is also grateful to Peter Diesch for the significant contribution he has made during his tenure as a Non-Executive Director of the Company."

Other Appointments

Since August 2004 Dr Eick has been a Director of Deutsche Bank AG and in June 2008 was appointed as a Director of OTE, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. Between 2000 and 2006 he was a Director of T-Online International AG. There are no further disclosures to be made pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13R (1) - (6) of the Listing Rules.

- ENDS -

For further information please contact:

Notes to Editors:

Arcandor AG holds (directly or indirectly) 52.8 per cent of the Company's shares. Upon the merger between MyTravel Group plc and Thomas Cook AG in June 2007, to form Thomas Cook Group plc (the "Company"), Arcandor and the Company entered into a Relationship Agreement (the "Agreement"). Under the terms of the Agreement, Arcandor has the right to appoint two Non-Executive Directors. As of today's date Thomas Middelhoff and Karl-Gerhard Eick are appointed under this provision.