Bristol Zoo Gardens appoints new head of marketing and development - 31/10/11

Bristol Zoo Gardens has appointed Owain Cassidy as its new head of marketing and development.

Owain joins the Zoo’s senior management group and has responsibility for marketing, public relations and development, and will lead a team in the implementation of communication and fundraising strategies for the Zoo.

Owain, who previously worked as the head of marketing and communications for a children’s charity in Wales called Ty Hafan, has worked in the marketing sector for nine years.

His previous roles also included marketing for the sport and recreation sector of Bridgend County Borough Council, and for a Welsh Government-funded project called ‘Opportunity Wales’ which helped small businesses promote their activities via online marketing channels.

“Bristol Zoo is a great institution and is well known for the work it does in the fields of conservation, research and breeding endangered species,” Owain said. “Being offered the chance to bring my skills and experience to an organisation like Bristol Zoo is a great opportunity.”

He added: “I’m joining the Zoo as it comes to the end of a big year, its 175^thanniversary, which has seen projects such as Wow! Gorillas enjoy fantastic success. I’m now looking forward to the future of working at Bristol Zoo and building on the great things it has achieved this year.”

Bristol Zoo’s Head of Commercial Operations, Wendy Walton, said: “Owain will be a great asset to the Zoo team; he has a very strong marketing background which will be of great benefit to us and we very much welcome him on board.”

Owain now intends to work on raising awareness of Bristol Zoo’s charitable status as well as developing its corporate relationships and increasing footfall to the Zoo via new marketing campaigns and projects for 2012. To get in touch with Owain about corporate or fundraising opportunities, email ocassidy@bristolzoo.org.uk

For more information about Bristol Zoo, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/christmas-treatsor call 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact the Bristol Zoo Gardens press office:

Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Notes to editors

• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work. 
• In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175^th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
• Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes   all over the world, showed 40 millionschool aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
• Throughout 2011 we’re bring people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
• Throughout 2011 we will be focusing our efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation.
• Throughout 2011 Bristol Zoo will support theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.The campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo.
• To find out more about the EAZA Ape Campaign visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
• Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.