Ex-Budweiser director takes Vizzavi role

James Lousada, the former European marketing director of Budweiser, has emerged in a senior role at multi-access portal Vizzavi.

Lousada left Anheuser-Busch without a job to go to in September, after a management restructure (MW September 21). He joined Vizzavi on Monday as European head of brands. He will report to Vizzavi’s chief marketing officer, Guy Laurence, who was recruited from ONdigital in August.

Although Anheuser-Busch refused to comment on the exact reasons for Lousada’s departure, his decision to go followed Andrew Days’ appointment as vice-president and managing director of its European operations. Lousada was to report to Day.

Lousada was replaced at Anheuser-Busch by Kerry Bebe, Budweiser’s marketing manager.

Vizzavi, which is co-owned by Vodafone Group and French media giant Vivendi, is also looking for an advertising agency, and both BMP DDB and McCann-Erickson are expected to take part in a pitch. It is not known whether Laurence or Lousada will oversee the search.

Vizzavi is available via WAP and the Web, but is expected to roll out onto other platforms, including digital TV.

As Marketing Week went to press, no one from Vizzavi was available for comment.