Avis chooses American Express marketer for top UK sales position

Avis Rent A Car has appointed Matt Andrews as UK director of sales and marketing.

Andrews joins from American Express, where he was vice-president of sales, with responsibility for corporate card and travel services for UK and European customers. He replaces Grahame Gallagher, who has returned to his native Australia after three years with the company.

Susan Yallop, appointed head of marketing at Avis last year (MW August 23, 2001), will report to Andrews. Black Cat handles advertising for Avis, while MediaCom handles media planning and buying. The car rental company says there are no plans to review agency arrangements.

Avis has a number of airline partners, including British Airways and bmi british midland. Promotion of the latter arrangement is handled by Perspectives Red Cell. Avis is launching a Commonwealth Games promotion offering a free cool bag for Avis renters visiting the games via Manchester Airport.

Parent company Avis Europe is Europe’s largest car rental group. The company has been affected by the post-September 11 slump in travel, and last October outlined plans to axe its fleet by ten per cent.

Avis Europe says bookings were already down 15 per cent in the three months before the terrorist attacks. Corporate hire, which accounts for a quarter of revenue, was down by ten per cent in the year to October 2001.