Ryanair shuts down UK marketing operations

by Alison Donnelly, Marketing 29-Jul-08, 08:52

LONDON - Ryanair has closed its sales and marketing department at Stansted Airport, leaving the future of its staff unclear.

The low-cost airline claims 10 of its 16-strong sales and marketing department are due to move to Dublin imminently.

According to insiders, it is not known whether the staff members who relocate will decide to stay with the Irish-owned airline after their arrival in Dublin.

Those remaining in England have now either resigned from their posts or arranged to remain with their employer in non-marketing roles in London.

Michael Cawley, Ryanair's deputy chief executive, told Marketing that the team's move to Dublin was part of its plan to bring as many key teams as possible closer to its Irish headquarters.

Ryanair was originally based in Stansted, where the majority of the airline's traffic had been concentrated.

Cawley added that Ryanair has appointed Lesley Kane, former head of Ryanair Direct, to the position of overall head of sales and marketing. She replaces Sinead Finn, who recently became Ryanair's director of commercial revenue.

The changes come during a stormy week for the budget airline, which announced an 85% drop in profits in its first quarter results this week.