Play.com’s marketing boss Richard Chapple has left the retailer to join The Hut as commercial director.

Chapple – an MCV Retail Advisory Board member – will work across TheHut.com and Zavvi to devise a communication strategy and drive the company’s  marketing.

Chapple will also expand the white label side of the business, The Hut Group – as the company looks to attract non-UK retailers to their services.

Chapple spent four years managing the marketing team at Play.com, most recently as marketing manager. Prior to this, he spent four years marketing Carpetright’s European expansion.

He now teams up again with former Play.com head of games Gian Luzio, who left the firm for The Hut in March.

CEO of The Hut Group Matthew Moulding said: “Richard has a huge amount of knowledge in retail and marketing, which makes him perfect for the role at The Hut Group. As we look to increase our product ranges and take all of our brands to the next level, I am confident that with Richard’s presence in the team we can achieve our goals.”

Chapple added: “The Hut Group has the kudos of clients that are household names, as well as two retail sites that will benefit from my expertise to grow into the leading entertainment and leisure retail brands in the UK and beyond.

“As the group already has great systems, processes and staff in place, we can implement new site functionality like ‘customer wish lists’ and ‘loyalty and referral schemes’, new products from consumer electronics, gifts and toys to clothing, all with much improved delivery times. We will then inform the millions of consumers about our enhanced service, product offering and choice before and during Christmas 2009 with a multi-million pound marketing campaign. There is real opportunity for this business to grow and I am hugely excited to be involved at a senior level.”