SWT snaps up Marketer from Age Concern

Strike-hit rail operator South West Trains (SWT) has appointed former Age Concern marketer Peter Owen as head of marketing.

At Age Concern, Owen was general manager of marketing. He also worked in the advertising department of Intercity in the early Nineties, but left in 1994.

Owen replaces John Cimelli at SWT – who has left to pursue consultancy work – and is responsible for the marketing budget and reports to SWT commercial director Rufus Boyd. He says he has no plans to review the advertising or direct marketing accounts, which are held by Burkitt DDB.

The company spent &£498,000 on advertising from October 2000 to September 2001 (AC Nielsen/MEAL). Activity included a television and outdoor campaign using the tagline “A better day isn’t far away” inside London and “London begins at Waterloo” outside the capital. SWT is running a two-for-one ticket promotion until mid-February in partnership with 12 London tourist attractions.

SWT is operated by Stagecoach. It is in dispute with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and has experienced disruptive industrial action already this month. Fresh strikes are planned for the end of this month and mid-February unless pay and disciplinary issues are settled.