Volvo UK appoints marketing chief

Volvo Car UK has appointed Simon Munn to the position of sales and marketing director. The news comes as the Ford-owned Swedish car company launches a new campaign for its Volvo XC90 sports utility vehicle, developed by New York agency MVBMS.

Munn’s new position fills the gap left following the promotion of sales director Hugh Reid to managing director last month (MW August 29). Reid replaced former UK managing director Gerry Keaney, who moved to Volvo Car Corporation, the Swedish parent company, to become vice-president, global sales.

Munn is an 18-year veteran with Volvo, whose previous roles include: marketing strategy manager for Volvo Car Corporation’s then newly formed global marketing division; marketing director and then managing director for Volvo Cars Japan; and, most recently, regional communications manager responsible for marketing and advertising strategy across Eire and the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The XC90 campaign broke this week, and follows a family on a journey in which they cross paths with three mythical beings – the Loch Ness Monster, a unicorn and Elvis.

The campaign is fully integrated and will be supported with print advertising, direct marketing and Internet advertising, all using the strapline: “Volvo for whatever’s out there.”

Volvo spent £18.7m on advertising in the UK in the year to the end of June 2002, according to Nielsen Media Research.