Ex-Thomson chief takes Nandos post
Andrew Rayner, the former marketing director at Thomson, is joining restaurant chain Nando’s as its chief marketer. He will join the company on July 14.
He takes over as marketing director from Louise Agram, who left to pursue other interests last October.
It is understood Rayner will drive Nando’s marketing at a more strategic level. He will work closely with the company’s marketing manager David Manley.
Manley says Rayner’s appointment reflects the speed of Nando’s growth in the UK. The 185-strong chain is opening between 35 and 40 venues each year. It launched in the UK in 1993, five years after it was founded in South Africa.
Rayner left the holiday company last year following the merger of Thomson parent company TUI with First Choice. The merged companies, known as TUI Travel, created Europe’s biggest tour operator.
The top marketing job at TUI Travel went to Tim Williamson, marketing director from First Choice. Rayner stayed with the company for an interim period but later left without a job to go to.
Last month, Beattie McGuinness Bungay landed the company’s advertising account following a pitch that was handled by the AAR. Incumbent agency, Hooper Galton, dropped out of the process at an earlier stage.
Manchester agency Love, handle the advertising for Nando’s retail range of branded sauces and marinades and is unaffected by the appointment of BMB.
