First Choice picks Disney man to steer retail chains

First Choice Holidays has appointed former Disney marketer Ian Scott to the new position of head of marketing retail.

Scott joins the travel company from his position as travel industry marketing manager UK & Ireland at Walt Disney Company.

Scott will have responsibility for promoting First Choice’s retail chains: Bakers Dolphin, Travel Choice and Holiday Hypermarket. The company recently launched an outdoor campaign for Holiday Hypermarket, featuring the strapline: “Catch us with our prices down”.

The position has been created following First Choice’s decision to split the responsibilities held by Rachel Clayton, head of customer acquisition. Clayton now becomes head of marketing of tour operations and specialist businesses. Both positions report to marketing director Sam Turnbull.

First Choice is also to launch a high frequency, flexible charter service from Manchester in July, with daily flights to Malaga and Alicante. The flights will be under its Air 2000 banner, though the company insists it is not setting up a “no-frills” airline.

The company’s lead advertising agency is Walsh Trott Chick Smith, although it used regional agency Phoenix for the Holiday Hypermarket campaign.