Toucan picks ex-Compass chief as marketing head

Telecoms company Toucan has appointed former Compass Group marketer John Prior as its first marketing director.

Prior, who has already joined Toucan, will be responsible for spearheading the company’s assault on the UK telecoms market. Toucan marketing manager Miles Barry will report to Prior.

The company, which is owned by US-based telecoms company IDT, introduced the first call package priced under &£10 last year in a bid to lure customers away from BT. It has now added a mobile phone venture to its range.

The news of Prior’s appointment coincides with the company’s decision to retain agency BMB Group to handle its &£3m advertising account following a protracted review.

Toucan called the review at the end of last year (MW December 2, 2004), but it is thought that the company was unimpressed with ideas presented by other agencies and has decided to continue its relationship with BMB.

Managing director Joseph Blass said at the time that the review was part of a good housekeeping initiative and “the prudent thing to do”.

It is not thought that its media account, which is held by AMS Media Group, or its direct marketing activity, which is handled internally, has been affected.