Declan Swan, director of the Hospitality Training Foundation (HTF), has resigned from the Government-funded training organisation to join the private sector, as chief executive of recruitment consultant Welcome Skills. Swann joined the HTF from the hotel industry in 1993 and has been director since 1997. He played a central role in developing the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, which was renamed "People 1st" last month.