Thomas Cook hunts strategist

Thomas Cook is to shift its focus to target lifestyles rather than marketing specific destinations, and is looking for a top marketer to oversee the change in strategy.

The new role will be director of customer marketing and strategyat the holiday company. Sourcessuggest an appointment will be made internally, but interim marketing director Keith Hendry is not in the running and is to leave the company in mid-January without a job to go to.

One possible candidate is director of customer strategy Paul Delatt, but the position has been advertised by parent company TUI AG across several territories.

The travel company is carrying out a merger of its distribution and tour operations businesses. Managing director for tour operations Manny Fontenla-Novoa has been made managing director distribution and tour operations. Managing director for distribution business Andrew Windsor is taking an as yet untitled international position with parent company Thomas Cook AG, with a brief to develop a multi-channel sales strategy.

Marketing functions for distribution and tour operations were consolidated last year ahead of full integration when Kevin Styles was made group marketing director (MW October 18). However, Styles quit to join First Quench in January (MW January 17) and there has not been a permanent incumbent since.

TBWALondon handles Thomas Cook’s advertising. The company spent £5m in the year to September (Nielsen Media Services).