Virgin grabs Orange marketing director

Virgin Holidays has appointed Orange marketer David Coutts as its marketing director.

Coutts joins the company from telecoms group Orange. His most recent position was as marketing director for the mobile company’s Netherlands operation.

Kathryn Beadle, who was the director of sales and marketing, left Virgin Holidays in August last year (MW August 19, 2004), when her post was divided in two.

Operations director Stewart Baird took responsibility for the sales function at the travel company. Coutts’ appointment ends a six month search for a marketing director.

As the senior marketer Coutts will report directly to Virgin Holidays managing director Amanda Wills. He will be responsible for all marketing activities including marketing communications, CRM, public relations, brand, new business, brochure production and the company’s loyalty club. He will manage a team of 30.

Coutts has ten years’ experience as a senior marketer and in the past has worked for Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s before joining Orange.

Virgin Holidays, the UK’s largest tour operator to the US and Caribbean, which takes 350,000 people on holiday each year, has also appointed three new general managers below Coutts.

Helena Patrinos, the former head of marketing, has been appointed general manager for brand and communications. Helen Litvak has joined the company as general manager for CRM (MW June 16) and Phil Boggon has been given the role of general manager of new business development.