Leading golf, sport and tourism agency, Azalea, has appointed Josh Abbott to the role of new group account & marketing director, continuing the company’s momentum following recent management structure changes and growth announcements.
Abbott is returning to Azalea three years after moving to Foxhills Club & Resort, where he oversaw all marketing and communications output for the award-winning venue. Widely respected in the industry, he has led successful, high-impact marketing campaigns spanning golf, hotel, hospitality, lifestyle and membership sectors.
Playing a prominent role in establishing Foxhills as an industry leader in cutting-edge marketing and content, Abbott quickly progressed to the position of director of marketing, while his leadership helped the Surrey venue win multiple awards including Best Hotel Marketing Team at the Hotel Marketing Association’s awards in 2024, as well as Business Travel Team of the Year at The Business Travel People Awards 2024. This success has since seen him invited onto the Hotel Marketing Association’s committee.
He will take up his new role as part of Azalea’s senior management team next month (August), taking responsibility for leading account strategy and enhancing an increased range of marketing services delivery across the agency’s diverse portfolio of international clients.
He said: “I’m thrilled to have been given this opportunity to return to Azalea and can’t wait to get started working alongside both some new and familiar faces. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the successes delivered at Foxhills and look forward to sharing my knowledge to shape powerful solutions for Azalea’s notable brand portfolio. It’s an exciting time for Azalea and the opportunity to help shape the future growth and ambitious plans was simply too good to turn down.”
Abbott will bring a wealth of experience and a track record of creative, results-driven marketing leadership to Azalea, developed over years of championing innovative approaches for one of the UK’s most revered country clubs.
With a 90 per cent growth in membership and 370 per cent growth in Instagram followers, Abbott’s time at Foxhills included responsibility for a full website build, brand positioning and data acquisition projects, AI tech integration, influencer and brand partnerships, as well as the marketing, PR and communications for several multi-million-pound investment project launches and the hosting of the Asian Tour’s International Series England.
Luke Frary, Azalea’s managing director, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Josh rejoin the team. He has built an outstanding reputation through his inspiring work at Foxhills. His experience and deep understanding across the marketing spectrum will be a valuable addition to Azalea’s expansion as we continue to evolve our services and strengthen our offering to clients worldwide.”
Abbott’s appointment is the latest in a series of strategic moves as Azalea accelerates its growth plans, following the announcement of its new management structure and international expansion.
Azalea has established itself as one of Europe’s leading golf and tourism marketing agencies since launching in 2006, working with world-class courses, resorts and tourist boards including Costa Navarino, Quinta do Lago, Turnberry, Apes Hill Barbados and the London Golf Club alongside lifestyle and performance brands.