Gap-year envy has clearly got the better of JD Wetherspoon's chairman, Tim Martin, who has upped and left the company for a six-month unpaid break.
The City was shocked at the announcement, which was made on Friday last week (26 September) instead of Monday morning after Martin's departure.
Managing director John Hutson, commercial director Suzanne Baker and finance director Jim Clarke, as well as the rest of the senior management team, will fulfil Martin's executive duties within the company during his absence. Martin will be a non-executive chairman of the pub and brewery company during his sabbatical and will attend board meetings. "I'm extremely confident that [the executive directors] will manage the business very well in my absence, and I look forward to finding the company in even better shape when I return in six months' time," said Martin.
Martin said he would spend some of his holiday travelling, but a company spokesman said he wouldn't reveal his exact plans or whereabouts. There are rumours that Martin wishes to learn some French, however.
He's expected back at work on 29 March next year.