New CFO at lastminute.com

lastminute.com, the leading pan-European travel and leisure website, has appointed Stephen Gleadle as CFO with effect from April 29 2005. Stephen, 46, joins lastminute.com from Synstar plc where he was group finance director and company secretary. At Synstar he improved the quality of financial decision making at all levels and oversaw the restructuring of the business, contributing significantly to its return to profitability and helping to rebuild City sentiment. Before Synstar, Stephen was group financial controller at Tarmac, having previously held a number of senior financial management positions with NFC and Mars Confectionery. Stephen graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK with a degree in Economics before training as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse. Brian Collie, Chairman of lastminute.com said: "I am delighted to welcome Stephen to the Board. His experience of corporate change and strong financial leadership will be a great asset to Brent and his team as they continue to integrate the recently acquired businesses" On his new appointment, Stephen Gleadle commented: "I am very pleased to have this opportunity to be a part of the fast growing and exciting travel and leisure industry and to work with the current management team to take lastminute.com through its next stage of development. I'm sure my experience of working within a dynamic technology company will prove invaluable."