Avis UK names director of sales and marketing

Avis Rent A Car UK has appointed Penny Stoolman as its director of sales and marketing.

The board-level position has been vacant since Matt Andrews left the company in June (MW June 12, 2003). In the interim, the marketing team, overseen by managing director Michael White, has handled his responsibilities.

Stoolman joins from the position of group strategy and marketing director at Arval PHH, the car rental arm of French bank BNP Paribas. This position also carried with it a seat on the board.

Stoolman began her career with the RAC, where she rose to director of fleet and accident services before leaving. She is also a former sales and marketing director at Kwik-Fit.

Avis UK spent &£259,000 on advertising for the year to September (Nielsen Media Research) and creates its advertising in house. Media planning and buying is handled by MediaCom.

Parent company Avis Europe appointed Murray Hennessy as its chief executive in December. He was commercial director with the John Lewis Partnership.

The group has been suffering from the economic slowdown, especially in business travel. Avis Europe has warned of flat profits for 2004.