Thomson marketer Rayner steps down

TUIThomson Holidays head of marketing and brand development Andrew Rayner is leaving the company after almost seven years. It is not known if he has another job to go to.

The news follows the merger between Thomson and First Choice, which created TUI PLC in September. First Choice marketer Tim Williamson was made TUI marketing director after going head-to-head with Rayner for the position.

Rayner has overseen the repositioning of the Thomson brand in the last 12 months, which included moving its £15m advertising account from DDB London to Krow Communications.

Williamson will now take over the role of TUI marketing and product director. First Choice marketer Andrew Laurillard has been made head of brand strategy as part of the reshuffle and will be responsible for the customer insight team. Thomson marketer Jeremy Ellis is now TUI head of innovation and CRM, while Thomson head of product Alan Pugh takes up the same role at TUI. They all report directly to Williamson. The TUI UK team is headed by managing director Dermot Blastland.