Consolidated Communications has been appointed by Virgin to handle
communications for its on-line venture into the pounds 6.8 billion UK
wine market - Virgin Wines.
Last month, Virgin Wines was announced as the latest on-line Virgin
brand, to be launched during the summer selling wine over the
internet.
Consolidated was appointed without a pitch by Virgin Wines managing
director Rowan Gormley. He was previously MD of Virgin Direct, which he
launched in 1995 and which now has 300,000 customers and pounds 2.5
billion under management.
Gormley has had a relationship with Consolidated going back ten years
from his time at venture capital fund Electra. More recently, he has
appointed the agency on financial products including Virgin Direct,
Virgin One and Virgin Money. Consolidated also works for other Virgin
brands, including its mobile phone business.
The Virgin Wine account will be headed by Consolidated director Deborah
Burtt who reports to Laura Knight, director of new business development
at Virgin.
