WU poaches Forte Hotels UK marketer

Money transfer company Western Union has appointed Forte Hotels senior commercial marketing manager John Campbell as its head of UK marketing.

Campbell will have a remit to strengthen the brand and find new sources of income. He will report to UK managing director Henk Elzenga.

The company targets largely those from the ethnic market – predominantly through poster ads – who want to send money to friends and family around the world.

The company has sponsored the Notting Hill Carnival in London for the past three years, in a deal reported to be worth £500,000 a year.

However, the company has said that it will be reviewing its sponsorship because of violence at the event.

In 1999 Western Union became a platinum sponsor of Manchester United in a deal reported to be worth £1m. The company receives perimeter advertising space and has the right to use the Man United logo on promotional material.

Creative work for the company is handled by D’Arcy, with media through MediaVest.