Leisure chief’s windfall after Butlin’s buyout

BOURNE Leisure executive Jane Bentall is leaving the Butlin’s owner amid rumours of a major payout after it was snapped up by private equity.

Blackstone paid around £3billion to buy Bourne Leisure earlier this year. The US giant has bought out the majority of existing shareholders, including Bentall, 50, managing director of the group’s Haven caravan holiday arm, who has been at the company for 21 years.

She was so highly valued that while raising her family, she was allowed to use the company helicopter to fly home from Haven’s sites in time for her children’s bath-time.

The size of her shareholding and resulting windfall has not been disclosed.

Bourne Leisure was founded in 1964 by Peter Harris, 87, now a billionaire, and the late John Cook and David Allen. Harris and his co-founders’ families have kept a minority stake.

Bentall will leave at the end of the year. It is understood she has not decided on her next move.