Kelkoo poaches sports marketer to boost users

Kelkoo.com, which claims to be Europe’s largest online price comparison site, has poached a senior marketer from sports website specialist 365.

Dorothea Arndt joins France-based Kelkoo as head of marketing for its UK operations. Her appointment follows Kelkoo.com’s launch into the UK in July, when it merged with UK company Shopgenie.

Arndt was previously head of sports marketing at 365 Corporation, where she was responsible for managing the company’s multi-million pound marketing budget across online and offline media.

365’s 20-plus sport sites include Football365.com, Planet-rugby.com and Livesport365.com. During her last six months at 365, Arndt claims to have boosted the number of monthly unique users by 33 per cent.

Arndt comments: “Kelkoo.com has taken the European and UK online price comparison markets by storm. I am delighted to be joining Kelkoo.com when it is going through such rapid expansion.”

Fabrice Mathieu, vice-president for international development at Kelkoo.com, says: “I am confident Dorothea’s experience in e-business marketing, at 365 Corporation, Mondus.com and Shell, will be key in propelling Kelkoo.com forward.”

Kelkoo.com helps consumers find the best deal on “almost anything” sold online. Its technology compares prices for products from more than 17 categories, including books, films, games, mobile phones, travel, electronics and wine. Access to more than 25,000 e-tailers in the merchant directory is also available.

Available in nine countries across Europe, Kelkoo.com says it is on track to reach its goal of 1.5 million monthly users by the end of 2000.