Tussauds picks ex-Atari boss to head marketing

Madame Tussauds UK has recruited former Atari marketer Richard Orr as head of marketing.

Orr, who most recently worked at Universal Music, takes up the responsibilities previously handled by Rob Smith. Smith has moved to work at Legoland Discovery Centre.

Legoland and Tussauds are owned by Merlin Entertainments.

Orr was marketing director at games publisher Atari where he left following a company restructure in 2006.

Smith recently appointed integrated agency Frank to Tussauds’ creative marketing account. The agency already works with sister visitor attractions the London Eye and the Sea Life London Aquarium.

The agency has devised a brand-focused campaign for Tussauds with the strapline: “Where Else?”Merlin Entertainments has made a number of marketing appointments across its attractions recently, including Chessington World of Adventures, which named Jon Fish as its marketing director last week.

The company has just launched the Merlin Annual Pass supported by the group’s first corporate branding campaign in an attempt to attract a larger slice of revenues from the domestic holiday market.

The pass applies to Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, Chessington and Legoland Windsor.