Star Alliance picks ex-Air NZ marketer

Airline partnership Star Alliance has appointed the former marketing chief of Air New Zealand, Mark Davies, as its marketing and communications director.

Davies will join from his position as marketing manager Europe at Air New Zealand in April. Based in Frankfurt, he will have responsibility for branding, marketing and agency relationships.

Davies replaces Shane O’Hare, who left last year, and will report to vice-president marketing Louise McKenven.

Worldwide advertising for the alliance is handled by Harrison Troughton Wunderman and media by Carat. The alliance spent &£324,000 on advertising in the UK for the year to December (Nielsen Media Research).

The alliance was founded in 1997 to provide customers with seamless travel between member airlines. It has been put under pressure recently by the financial turmoil at its biggest member, United Airlines. The US carrier provides its partners with access to the domestic US market through its main hubs at Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Los Angeles.

The Star Alliance was joined by South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines this week, taking its total to 13 members and 15 brands.