Paddy Power hires new chief marketing officer
Ex-giffgaff and Telephonica marketer Gav Thompson will join operator in June
Paddy Power has named brand and marketing veteran Gav Thompson as its new chief marketing officer (CMO) to help drive the strategic direction of the brand.
Thompson, who begins his new role in June, will join from customer engagement technology business Thunderhead where he is currently CMO.
He will take responsibility for driving the growth of the Paddy Power brand and CEO Andy McCue described Thompson as a “world-class marketing talent”.
Thompson replaces Christian Woolfenden who was promoted to the role of managing director for retail, UK & Ireland in December 2014. The firm’s head of brand Paul Sweeney took up the CMO role on an interim basis while Paddy Power looked for a permanent replacement.
Prior to Thunderhead, Thompson was the global director of business innovation at Telefonica and previously, director of marketing innovation for Telefonica Europe.
He was also the founder of the community-run mobile phone network ‘giffgaff’ and has also worked at a number of leading agencies including Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, BBDO New York, TBWA London and Publicis Mojo Sydney.
“I have always been a huge fan of the Paddy Power brand. The brand is over-flowing with creativity, entertainment, disruption, innovation and mischief,” Thompson said.
“To be asked to be CMO of such a unique proposition is a real honour. This really is my perfect job, and I cannot wait to get cracking”.