On the 9th of May 2025, the Head Office came alive with emotion and energy as the entire staff came together for a heartfelt farewell ceremony in honour of our Executive Chairman, Madhavan Menon. From junior team members to senior leaders, everyone gathered to express their gratitude, share stories, and bid goodbye to a man who was more than just a leader—he was a mentor, a guide, and an inspiration. The presence of his entire family added a personal touch to the event, making it all the more meaningful.
The event was at the Marathon Office in Mumbai, and was live-streamed for those who couldn’t attend or were outstation.
Mahesh Iyer, our MD & CEO ushered Madhavan to where the staff were waiting to welcome him with a round of thunderous applause!
Cassius Colaco, conducted the proceedings with his customary blend of lighthearted humour and serious commentary. He introduced Madhavan as “Truly the Prince of the Travel Industry”!
There were many who came forward to speak of their connection with the Chairman, sharing anecdotes and experiences.
Mahesh said: “I know Madhavan from the very first day he joined Thomas Cook —2nd May 2000. We discovered that, although he could be a really hard taskmaster, he was soft and gentle inside. He was a thorough professional, very principled, task-oriented and the first to come to the office! I have learnt a lot from him. He always gave me much confidence and support.”
Mahesh mentioned how Madhavan would often say; “You guys can do it, go ahead. If you make a mistake I will support you.”
Mahesh welcomed Madhavan’s family – Lili, Pooja-Rohan, Shankar-Devika and Nina. He wished them all good luck, much happiness and great peace. “We will miss you,” he told Madhavan, “but we know your blessings will always be with us.”
Vishal Suri-MD & CEO SOTC said: “I never imagined that we would be gathering like this for Madhavan’s retirement, because he is the person behind Thomas Cook!”
He said he usually wrote down points when he had to speak, but for Madhavan, he couldn’t, for it came straight from the heart.
He went on to say: “Madhavan has touched so many people in so many different ways. I first met him in 2006. When the company changed hands a couple of times, Madhavan stood like a rock through it all and assured us we were safe, and 99% of us believed him. A joke we have is that I left the company to join Kuoni, and he had to buy that company to get me back! But seriously, he just said, ’welcome back to the family.’ You can’t let a person like that down. If he feels he can trust you, if you have the principles and values that he embodies, he is the guy who will back you all the way. He is like a safety net! He touches people at a professional and personal level. It is an honour to work with him!”
Mona Cheriyan-President & Group Head, Human Resources, reminisced about how, before she joined, they had a very good interview over a nice bowl of minestrone soup and a salad, “where he sold me Thomas Cook!” Madhavan admitted later that when he “needed a shoulder from which I could fire”, he knew Mona was that person!
“He showed me the dream that he had for Thomas Cook, which was standalone at the time”, said Mona. “We had many acquisitions after that. It has been quite a journey!”
On a lighter note, Mona quizzed him with an ‘interview’.
From some of the questions flashed at him, we came to know that ‘whisky’ was his favourite beverage at the office; that his wife Lili was his ‘hobby’ and his ‘other hobby’ was his granddaughter Nina!
It was touching to hear the thoughts shared by Madhavan’s daughter Pooja and son Shankar.
“Often we felt like Thomas Cook was a 3rd sibling, and we had to fight for his attention!” said Pooja. “But we also knew how deeply he cared for the organisation and every one of you, and his commitment to doing the right thing. For him it wasn’t just a job, he gave it his all.”
Shankar put it very aptly when he said: “Every one of you has been, and will always be, a part of our father’s family, and by extension, a part of our whole family too! That is something dad has held very close to his heart, and as with all families, we too have troubled so many of you, as good siblings should! So while today is a celebration of his achievements, it would not feel right at all not to thank ALL of you too, on this occasion!”
He then proceeded to go down a whole list of names, thanking many individually, including “big boss” Lakshmi, for being an integral part of their journey. He thanked everyone for “giving us a glimpse of the respect and camaraderie that has shaped our father’s and our times, with you all, and for making it so meaningful.”
Finally, it was Madhavan’s turn and in an emotionally charged speech, he said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the love and affection that has been surrounding me and my family. The decision to retire was probably the most difficult decision of my life. During my time with the company, I had many big decisions to make, but I knew I had people around to help me take those decisions in the office.
But I must say it was my family who gave me the strength to make this most important one. There was this conversation about why I was travelling so much. It got me thinking and one day, I woke up and told Lili I was done, and was going to retire. At first my family was shocked! But each of them gave me the support I needed. Devika created the deck that helped me to go and talk to Prem about it!”
Madhavan spoke about how the 25 years had been filled with so many different experiences.
“When I look back on them, I wonder how I survived them all! I know, many times I have come close to getting sacked!” he said. “But one thing was constant…. The strength I drew from the organisation, from my family and from each one of you, to keep marching on, especially during the Covid pandemic.
When I decided to retire, I felt I could not have left the organisation at a better state in all these 25 years, than it is in now. So this was the right time to leave, and allow the company to grow even more. I know that Mahesh, who has worked with me all these years, will lead Thomas Cook with a fresh perspective.”
Madhavan mentioned that Mahesh and Vishal had been a tremendous support, especially during the dark pandemic days. As for Prem! He was the “eternal optimist” who had called Madhavan every 10 days to boost him up.
“What Prem has taught me, is invaluable and has shaped the way I managed the company. He gave me a foundation to work on.”
The outgoing Chairman then went through a long list of people he wanted to acknowledge, who had been part of his journey in many different ways, right from the top management down to every strata of staff. He highlighted each one’s characteristics with great sincerity and a touch of humour.
He ended by saying: “All the memories, all the friends I have here, I am not leaving them behind. I am carrying them with me and will cherish them for the rest of my life. You cannot take Thomas Cook out of me. We have something precious. Do not let the spirit fade away. I know that Mahesh and all the other CEOs won’t let it. This is what makes us stand out from other organisations… the family feeling and the camaraderie set us apart. Please hold on to that!”
After resounding applause, Madhavan, surrounded by his family, cut the ’25-years’ cake. Greetings and goodwill filled the air.
Earlier messages had poured in from the staff on a special “Kudos Board” which was circulated online. Videos going down memory lane, and video messages from those who couldn’t be present were shown at the event.. Opportunities for staff to have their picture taken with the outgoing Chairman were eagerly availed off! Everyone wanted a memory!
See some of the memories created, below! Keep scrolling down….
It was a wonderful afternoon. The event was a warm tapestry of laughter, nostalgia, and sincere appreciation, punctuated by touching tributes and joyful moments. As the Chairman took his final bow amid cheers and misty eyes, it was clear that his influence transcended titles and hierarchies. The office farewell may have marked the end of his official role, but his spirit will live on in the corridors, culture, and hearts of the people he inspired every single day!
