Former P&O chief takes on Eurotunnel marketing

Eurotunnel has appointed former P&O European Ferries marketing and sales director Peter Stratton to the new position of UK marketing and sales director.

The move follows the appointment in March of Eric Barrois, European sales and marketing director, as revealed exclusively in Marketing Week (March 5).

Bill Dix, managing director of Eurotunnel Shuttle Services, says: “We are delighted to have someone of Peter’s calibre to take on the role of marketing and sales director at a very challenging time for the cross-Channel market.”

Stratton, who left P&O last May after eight years, has since worked for Connex as commercial director.

The cross-Channel market is hotting up with the finalisation of P&O Stena merger two months ago. The proposed abolition of duty-free sales in 1999 is also expected to bring further rationalisation.

Eurotunnel decided to divide marketing roles between the UK and the continent after European sales and marketing director Jean-Pierre Mufraggi left last year. The company has also dropped the Le Shuttle tag after research showed the brand was not as widely recognised as the Eurotunnel name.

GGT handles the 10m UK account for Le Shuttle which is under review. It is pitching for the account against Young & Rubicam, O&M, Bates Dorland and Leo Burnett.