NTL appoints Amex boss as top marketer

Cable company NTL has poached Mike Hounsell from American Express to be its first group marketing director.

Hounsell is vice-president international ChargeCard for the US-based company, where he has worked for two years.

He takes up his post at NTL on March 1. However, he has already overseen pitches for the cable company’s 10m advertising account. McCann-Erickson, J Walter Thompson, Banks Hoggins O’Shea/FCB and Arc pitched for the business last week (MW January 28).

It is understood a media review may follow. NTL’s present media agency is Carat.

Hounsell’s role as the most senior marketer in the company puts him in charge of a marketing team of 20. His responsibilities range across the company’s interests in tele-phony, the Internet, cable, and digital services.

“In many ways this company is a blank canvas,” says Hounsell. “We need to brand it and tell people what we are about.”

Before joining Amex, Hounsell held a variety of posts at Allied Domecq. His previous roles include spells at Duty Free, Kahlua and United Distillers.