Lastminute.chairman quits.com

Allan Leighton, non-executive chairman of lastminute.com, is to stand down from his post with the pioneering UK e-tailer after four years with the company.

Leighton will be replaced by Brian Collie, director of global retail and ecommerce at BAA.

During Leighton's time with lastminute.com the company has grown its revenues from £34m to a forecast £1.1bn for 2004. He has also seen the company undertake a period of rapid consolidation across the travel and entertainment sector.

Leighton said in a statement: "I believe now is the right time in lastminute.com's evolution for me to hand over to Brian and I am confident he will lead the group in its continuing mission to delight customers with great deals for all their travel and leisure needs."

Leighton, a serial board member, has also held various posts with Asda, BSkyB, BHS, Cannons Dyson, Leeds United Football Club and Royal Mail during the same period. In some quarters it was suggested that such an wide array of interests limited the time he had to focus on individual posts and at times he drew criticism for not being hands-on enough with lastminute.com.

However, Brent Hoberman, CEO of lastminute.com, express his regret at Leighton's decision to step down and paid tribute to the work the outgoing chairman has done. "He has been with lastminute.com almost since inception and is held in high regard by both the Board and the executive team," said Hoberman.

He has already left some of the above companies, and now is also stepping down from Dyson and Cannons but continuing his work with BHS and Royal Mail.

Leighton will be officially replaced by Collie in January 2005.