Lastminute picks head of marketing

Lastminute.com has appointed Mathew Hart as marketing director after a major restructure of senior management at the online travel and lifestyle brand.

Hart, formerly managing director of Holiday Autos, takes up the position left vacant by Vijay Solanki last month (MW August 8).

Lastminute bought Holiday Autos in March last year where Hart was group e-commerce director and marketing director.

Before joining the car rental company, Hart spent seven years at Thomson Holidays in product marketing.

Hart’s first task will be to integrate on- and offline marketing across Lastminute’s portfolio.

Lastminute.com has used a number of different advertising agencies over the past 12 months, including Banc, BLM and Quiet Storm.

UK managing director Richard Bowden-Doyle is to leave the company as part of the restructure, and four new roles have been created, all subordinate to chief operating officer Ian McCaig.

These include retail managing director, taken by John Kent; and managing director of group operations, taken by former Holiday Autos deputy chief executive officer Doug Sawers. Also, Lopo Champalimaud is to become managing director of lifestyle.