Visit East Anglia board member Alex Paul has been appointed group sales and marketing director at Gough Hotels.

Mr Paul has worked in tourism for more than 20 years and has been based in Suffolk since 2008 when he was appointed head of tourism for Choose Suffolk.

Since January 2011, he has been general manager at Southwold-based holiday cottage lettings agency Suffolk Secrets. He has also been a board member of Visit East Anglia since its creation and is also a director of The Suffolk Coast Ltd, a body aimed at promoting Suffolk’s coast.

Gough Hotels owns the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich, and in February this year acquired Southwold Pier where there are also plans for a hotel development.

Robert Gough, managing director, said: “I am delighted to welcome Alex to the team. I know his knowledge and experience will help lead us on a new exciting period for Gough Hotels.”

Mr Paul added: “There are such exciting times ahead, working with two quite unique hotels which set the tone for style and quality as well as helping with the next plans for Southwold Pier. 2014 is going to be quite a year for the group.”