Hut poaches Play.com marketing chief

Online retailer The Hut Group has poached rival Play.com’s marketing manager Richard Chapple to take the new role of commercial director.

Richard Chapple
Richard Chapple

The group, which earlier this year bought the Zavvi brand, website and 1m customer database after the music retailer went into administration over Christmas, says Chapple will help it to become a “major multi-channel retail and entertainment player.”

Chapple will also take-on expansion of the group’s white label business, which currently runs website services for a number of retailers including Asda and Curry’s parent company DSGi.

He spent four years managing the marketing team at rival online music, games and entertainment retailer Play.com, and previously worked within the marketing team at retail chain Carpetright.

The group is seeking to steal market share from Amazon, Play and HMV online as well as expand its white label business internationally.

Chapple says he plans to introduce new “functionality” to Hut’s sites such as customer wish lists and loyalty and referral schemes.