First Great Western picks former Nectar marketer for interim stint

Richard Campbell, former marketing director at loyalty scheme Nectar, has joined rail operator First Great Western as interim marketing director.

Campbell, who left his role as marketing director at Nectar parent group Loyalty Management UK (LMUK) in June, is set for a six-month stint at the Swindon-based rail company.

Campbell is currently reviewing First Great Western’s marketing plans and it is not clear if this will affect its advertising agencies. He will report to First Great Western managing director Alison Forster.

Campbell, a former Debenhams marketer, was a key member of the Nectar launch team when the loyalty scheme was introduced in 2002. Customer marketing director John Sheekey has replaced him at LMUK.

It is not clear what Campbell plans to do following his spell at the rail company but he says that he is “keeping his options open” about opportunities for 2007.

First Great Western is owned by First Group, which operates train services in the South-west of England. In 1998, bus operator First Group acquired Great Western, along with its subsidiary North Western Trains, and rebranded it.