As part of a wider boardroom shuffle following the departure of managing director Dermot Blastland, customer director Tim Williamson, who previously oversaw its marketing, is to leave his role. He told Marketing he is looking for 'new challenges' within the TUI Group and externally, and 'not necessarily within travel'.
Williamson, who became the first marketing director at TUI following the merger of TUI AG and First Choice Holidays in 2007, has spent the past two years creating distinct brand positions for First Choice and Thomson.
His Customer division will be split into two teams: Brand and Marketing, and Overseas Operations and After Travel Customer Service. The former, led by head of marketing Jeremy Ellis, will report directly to Lundgren.
An internal marketing board comprising stakeholders from across the business and chaired by Lundgren, will be responsible for strategic brand and marketing decisions.
Ellis will continue to handle TUI's relationship with its agencies, including ad agency Beattie McGuinness Bungay.
Since 2008, TUI has positioned First Choice as ideal for families with young children, while Thomson has targeted travellers seeking a hassle-free, indulgent holiday.
A significant proportion of TUI's marketing has focused on the benefits of booking a package holiday, given the disruption caused by the collapse of several airlines and the closure of airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud earlier this year.
The company is also looking to make greater use of its retail chains, and plans to remove last-minute deal posters from store windows.
Read Gareth Jones's on the story
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