John Hays (22 July 1949[1] – 13 November 2020) was a British businessman, and the founder/CEO of Hays Travel, now the largest independent travel agency in the UK.[2]
John Hays | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 July 1949 |
| Died | (aged 71) Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Education | University of Oxford Manchester Business School |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Hays Travel |
| Title | CEO, Hays Travel |
| Term | 1980–2020 |
| Successor | Irene Hays |
| Spouse |
Irene Hays (m. 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
Career
editHays earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Oxford.[3] He later earned an MBA from Manchester Business School.[4] In 1980, Hays founded Hays Travel in the back of his mother's children's wear store in Seaham, Durham.[5] Hays owned 56.42% and his wife Irene owned 43.58%.[6]
Personal life
editJohn Hays married Irene Lucas in 1997. She has chaired the company since his death. The couple had two children.[3]
Death
editJohn Hays died on 13 November 2020, aged 71, after collapsing at the company's Sunderland head office.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ Brown, Jeff (10 December 2020). "John Hays obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ "About Hays Travel | UK's Largest Independent Travel Agent | Hays Travel". www.haystravel.co.uk.
- ^ a b Ford, Coreena (9 October 2019). "Meet the couple behind Hays Travel as they offer hope to thousands of Thomas Cook staff". Chronicle. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "What I've learnt: John Hays". North East Times. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ Davies, Rob (11 October 2019). "'We're no country bumpkins': Meet the couple who bought Thomas Cook". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Hays Travel Limited". Global Database. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Hays Travel founder dies after collapsing at work". BBC News. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ Otter, Saffron (13 November 2020). "John Hays, founder of Hays Travel, dies aged 71". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
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