Steve’s breakdown: I suspect if Luanne is going to switch agencies, she’s going to go with a San Francisco shop becuase she has way too many friends there. So if that’s you, get on the horn and congratulate her.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing flying, today announces the appointment of Luanne Calvert as the Company’s new Vice President of Marketing.  With a wealth of experience in the marketing and advertising worlds, Calvert will play a leading role in developing the Virgin America brand as the airline continues to grow into new markets across North America. As Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America, Luanne will lead the airline’s Brand and Online Marketing, In-flight Content and Loyalty teams.

“As the only airline based here in Silicon Valley, we’re thrilled to have someone with Luanne’s unique blend of brand and digital marketing expertise to help shape our Company as we grow,” said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. “Virgin America is known for both its innovative flight experience and status as a challenger brand in the industry.  Luanne’s experience and vision will help further define our brand’s unique place in the travel landscape.”

An industry veteran, Calvert has spent 20 years shaping some of the world’s leading brands.  Calvert comes to Virgin America after leading digital marketing strategy as a consultant with Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy’s (LVMH) Fendi and Moleskine brands in Italy.  Prior to that, Calvert served as Creative Director at Google, where she managed the brand globally and developed innovative campaigns to bring Google products directly to consumer and business audiences — including Google Checkout, Google Apps, iGoogle and Google Maps.  While at Google, Calvert helped shape some of the Company’s landmark brand efforts, including the development of the first video campaign for Gmail and the branding of the first YouTube/CNN presidential debates.  Before joining Google in 2006, Calvert led her own marketing firm (Mixed Marketing, Inc.), with blue chip clients ranging from Calvin Klein Cosmetics to Netflix and eBay.  From 1999 to 2002, she served as a Director of Marketing at Yahoo!, Inc. where she founded Yahoo!’s buzz marketing team.

Earlier in her career, Calvert served as the Vice President of Marketing at Joe Boxer Apparel, during which time the company was recognized as “Marketer of the Year” by BrandWeek.  Before Joe Boxer, she launched her career working for many years at various top San Francisco advertising agencies, including Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Citron, Haligman Bedecarre (now AKQA).

Calvert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from San Francisco State University.  She currently resides in San Francisco.

Calvert replaces Porter Gale who departed the Company earlier in 2011 to pursue other opportunities.

About Virgin America:  Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel.  In just four years flying, Virgin America was named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards and “Best Domestic Airline” in Travel + Leisure’s 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World’s Best Awards.  The airline’s base of operations is San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  In April 2011, the airline became an anchor tenant at SFO’s new sleek and sustainable Terminal 2.  Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun,  Chicago, Puerto Vallarta (as of Dec. 2, 2011) and Palm Springs (as of Dec. 15, 2011).  For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com  For photos/video of the airline’s new aircraft and high-tech interiors, visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/about/airline-photos/virgin-america-pictures.html

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