Housetrip recruits marketing chiefs

Housetrip has announced the appointment of Zaid Al-Qassab as chief marketing officer and Sharath Bulusu as chief product officer.

Housetrip has announced the appointment of Zaid Al-Qassab as chief marketing officer and Sharath Bulusu as chief product officer.

Al-Qassab joins the company following 20 years at Proctor & Gamble, most recently as director, while Bulusu joins having held senior roles at Google, Twitter and Guardian Media Group.

Al-Qassab said: “Housetrip offers an incredible opportunity because the company is operating in a market where there still isn’t a hugely branded proposition.

“The company has spent the past four years building excellent product and service, which is why it has the best net promoter score in the industry. We now have the opportunity to build a leading consumer brand around the excellent product.”

Bulusu added: “We are focused on building the best experience for people to find and book holiday homes.

“The product roadmap over the next twelve months will focus on bringing speed, efficiency and excitement to the holiday booking process. Housetrip users should look forward to a steady stream of innovative product launches over the next 12 months.”

The appointments come ten days after the launch of Housetrip’s first-ever television ad campaign in France, with rollouts set to continue in additional key European markets.

Arnaud Bertrand, chief executive of Housetrip, said: “We are excited to welcome Zaid and Sharath to Housetrip. Their vision, energy and experience are already charging us forward into 2014 and beyond.

“The combination of the appointments and the television ad campaign puts HouseTrip well on track to be Europe’s favourite holiday rentals website.”