EasyJet has recruited a former OTA boss as chief customer and marketing officer.
Robert Birge, who will sit on the budget airline’s management board, joins from online fashion firm ASOS where he was chief customer officer.
He previously spent six years at Kayak as chief marketing officer and was also part of the start up team behind US online travel agency Orbitz, managing the creation of the brand.
The role at easyJet brings together a number of key areas including marketing, digital, customer service along with customer experience and insight.
Birge, who will join the airline later this month, was described by the carrier as a “highly experienced leader with an excellent track record of delivering marketing and customer success across travel brands as well as e-commerce, online clothing and consumer goods for both large companies and start-ups”.
The chief marketing office role at EasyJet was dropped in 2020 when Lis Blair left after eight years to join energy firm Bulb and then Moneysupermarket.
A restructure saw marketing, customer, digital and insight reporting to former chief commercial officer Robert Carey, who moved to rival Wizz Air in June last year as president.
Easyjet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “Robert brings with him a wealth of experience from a range of travel and consumer brands.
“Continually innovating how we deliver our unique easyJet customer experience is a key focus area for the airline and so we look forward to welcoming Robert to the airline later this month.”
Birge added: “EasyJet is an iconic brand in travel, having long pioneered making the promise of travel more affordable and easier.
“I’m incredibly excited about the strategic vision, quality and energy of the airline management board, and I look forward to working with them to shape the future of the customer experience and brand.”