Rich Simpson

Rich looks after the regulatory matters for the travel functions of The Midcounties Co-operative, having joined the Co-op movement back in 1998, and spending time with United Coop and Co-operative Group (including the Future Travel and Freedom Travel Group brands) before its joint venture with Thomas Cook. Rich joined Midcounties Coop where the independent Coop Travel operation existed and had taken advantage of the independent ways of working. 10 years or so later this continues to grow and thrive. 

The role reaches across the travel business of the ‘Your Coop Travel’ branded high street shops, self-employed homeworking agents under the brand ‘Personal Travel Agents’, Consortium operation of managed agents and the in-house Tour Operation, ‘Coop Holidays’ with its Virtual Travel Experts. Interpreting the regulations and delivering the plain English version to the business whilst aiming to shape those new regulations to be fit for the wider industry. 

 Rich is also Chair of ABTA’s Committee which was formed in July, where Membership financial and code of conduct cases are addressed, working with a committee of industry experts and the ABTA secretariat teams to ensure a reasonable and pragmatic approach is taken to matters which arise.