Solanki, who joined in September 2003, said he will leave at the end of summer. He does not have another job to go to, but will be starting a project putting together a book of marketing case studies, with the working title 'How Marketing Works (and How It Doesn't)'. He is also getting married in a month's time.
While looks for a replacement, Solanki's duties will be overseen by head of promotions and partnerships, Emma Seward. His departure comes after the appointment in January of a new managing director, Roger Bowden Doyle, who has taken on merchandising and online marketing responsibilities that were formerly handled by Solanki.
Since Bowden Doyle arrived, there have been a number of agency changes at Lastminute.com, most recently with financial PR agency Gavin Anderson being dropped in favour of the Maitland Consultancy.
Solanki joined Lastminute.com from the music recognition firm Shazam, where he was marketing director. Prior to that, he worked as head of marketing at Capital Radio and at Unilever.
He has overseen the company's biggest marketing push to date, a summer promotion that includes tie-ins with The Independent and hairdressing chain Toni & Guy.
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