EasyJet boss quits to steer Arriva Buses

EasyJet commercial director Mike Cooper has left the company to join Arriva Buses in the new position of managing director.

Cooper had signalled his intention to leave the low-cost airline at some point this year.

However, his departure leaves easyJet’s marketing team depleted, as head of marketing Alistair Buckle left in November, subsequently joining Travelodge as director of brand marketing (MW November 11, 2004). The team is being led by interim head of marketing Rebecca Butler.

Cooper oversaw the creation of a television brand campaign that introduced easyJet’s new strapline “Come on, let’s fly” in place of “The Web’s favourite airline” (MW October 7, 2004). The campaign, created by Sledge, ran last November until Christmas.

Cooper joined the airline in 2000 from Thomson Travel Group, where he was e-commerce director. He is also a former ICI Dulux marketer. Chief executive Ray Webster is expected to announce a new marketing structure shortly.

EasyJet has just announced that it expects revenues to rise for the first half of 2005 by between one and two per cent on the same period last year. First-half results are due on May 24.