Avis Euro chief quits for Internet start-up

Clare Salmon has quit as European group director of marketing at car hire giant Avis Europe after less than eight months.

Salmon is to become commercial director of Internet start-up Transacsys – the e-commerce arm of vending machine manufacturer Girovend.

Girovend will change its name to Transacsys on April 6 and launch a number of business-to-business Websites.

Salmon joined Avis in July after quitting her post as Prudential consumer marketing director last March.

She will report to former Pru marketing and strategy director Paul McGrane, who is also chief executive of Transacsys. Former Pru group chief executive Nick Newmarch is deputy chairman of Girovend.

Salmon is the second senior figure to quit Avis this month. Financial director David Maloney left to take up a similar role at tour operator Thomson Travel.

Avis has restructured its management team. Vice-president of sales and marketing Susan Hooper will take on Salmon’s responsibilities, and report to chief executive Mark McCafferty.

Avis recently unveiled plans to launch Europe’s first second-hand car Website, which will offload up to 20 per cent of the company’s fleet, in addition to selling cars from outside suppliers.

The company hopes to increase online bookings in the face of stiff competition from new entrants to the car hire market, such as EasyGroup and Virgin.