Jim Forward, chief executive designate of HF Holidays

A former boss of a hotel chain will be stepping into the boots of a specialist walking holiday co-operative chief executive.

Brian Smith will retire early next year as head of HF Holidays, which began life a century ago as the Holiday Fellowship.

The original organisation was founded in 1913 by TA Leonard ‘to promote the healthy enjoyment of leisure, to encourage the love of the open air and to promote social and international fellowship’.

Jim Forward will take over as chief executive designate in October, before fully taking up the post in January.

He was previously managing director of Warner Leisure Hotels and before that ran sales and marketing for Butlins at Bourne Leisure.

He said: “HF Holidays is an award-winning and progressive organisation and I am looking forward to building on the success that Brian Smith and his team have achieved.”

Brian Smith will become chair of Britain on Foot, the outdoor industry campaign to get more people active outdoors.

HF Holidays now has 19 country houses across Britain, aimed at catering for walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts.