Lovefilm takes on Morris to increase sales

Online DVD rental company Lovefilm has appointed Simon Morris as its first full-time business development and marketing director.

Morris is well known in the marketing and media world – his career has included stints as marketing director at Sega; consumer marketing director at BSkyB; and managing director at Chris Evans’ Ginger TV. Morris was also a co-founder of online sports and lifestyle portal Football365.com, now owned by Chrysalis.

Lovefilm’s website allows consumers to browse more than 18,700 titles, and selections – which can be kept as long as they want to – are mailed out first class. There are three levels of service: Bronze, at &£9.99 a month, allows subscribers to borrow one DVD; Silver, at &£14.99 allows them to have two discs; and Gold, at &£19.99, allows them to rent three.

In February, Lovefilm appointed former Warner Village marketing director Sarah Kelly as marketing director (MW February 26), on a part-time consultancy basis. A spokesman for Lovefilm says Kelly is still marketing director, and will be working closely with Morris.

A radio ad campaign promoting the online DVD rental service breaks this week. Lovefilm uses Alcone for digital marketing.