Royal Caribbean names top EMEA marketer
Cruise line Royal Caribbean International has appointed Cadbury Schweppes marketer Michael Zollo as marketing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), as the company rebuilds its marketing team.
Zollo, who will report to senior EMEA vice-president Susan Hooper, was European marketing director for chewing gum at Cadbury Schweppes. He was also previously a marketing director for Kraft Foods in Germany and Russia. He replaces Gary West, who left in December.
He takes up the position in March and will be responsible for brand and strategy development and increasing the use of marketing tools such as online distribution and customer relationship management.
Royal Caribbean recently appointed Jo Rzymowska to the new position of sales and marketing director for the UK and Ireland (MW January 6), and she reports to new UK managing director Robin Shaw.
Positive Thinking handles Royal Caribbean’s advertising and was appointed in October 2002 by West after European director of sales, marketing and operations Pete Williams left the cruise company halfway through the pitch (MW October 24, 2002). The cruise line spent &£2.6m on UK campaigns last year.
The company reported that revenues were up 20.4 per cent to $4.6bn (&£2.5bn) in 2004 from $3.8bn (&£2bn) the previous year. Royal Caribbean attributed the rise to a 10.3 per cent increase in its ships’ capacity and an increase in cruise prices and on-board revenue.
