Marketing and communications agency DDA has hired luxury hospitality and leisure veteran Keith Iddins, with over 30 years of experience, in the newly created role of travel relations director for the DDA Travel and Logistics (Live) arm.
Iddins, who has worked with major hotel groups including Dorchester Collection, Maybourne and Oetker, will report to Live vice president Daniel Starmer to develop DDA’s hospitality and travel services. He will also take over responsibility for hotel logistics from long-serving DDA executive Caroline Warburton, until the recent CEO of DDA Events Management, who is set to retire at the end of 2027.
“Caroline’s unparalleled reputation in the industry reflects decades of outstanding leadership and the trust and affection she has earned from colleagues and clients,” said DDA Partners Lawrence Atkinson, Dana Archer and Neil Bhatt. “As part of our strategic planning for her retirement, we are delighted to welcome Keith, a long-time partner of DDA through his previous roles at some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, to help build on Caroline’s remarkable legacy.”
Hired by Dennis Davidson in 1997 as a coordinator in what was then DDA’s Market Services division, Warburton has been at the heart of the company’s international festival and market operations for three decades. He has managed events, logistics and accommodations for leading companies in the global entertainment industry from Cannes to Toronto.
Iddins’ appointment follows DDA’s recent acquisition of DDA Event Management and its integration into DDA’s Live division.
“DDA Event Management and DDA have been operating in isolation for so long that this is a natural evolution rather than a change,” Warburton said. “As we prepare for retirement, I know our exceptional team and wonderful customers will be in the best hands as Daniel takes our business to the next level. I’m excited to watch from afar as the company continues to grow for decades to come.”
Starmer, DDA’s vice-chairman of Live, said the company was “looking for someone who will consolidate and develop DDA’s work in the travel sector” and that Iddins’ “experience and reputation” were aligned with its future ambitions.
“We feel uniquely positioned with our ability to meet a wide range of our customers’ needs as they activate and operate globally. I’m excited to continue building on Caroline’s legacy as we move towards the 2027 festival season and beyond,” he added.
“I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with DDA and their clients many times throughout my career, many of whom began their careers at DDA,” said Iddins. “Having the opportunity to now join the team makes me feel especially special and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve always loved being on the front lines for a project and being a part of what goes on behind the scenes to put an event together.”
DDA, which has 175 staff across offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Dubai, has established its US Film and Series Promotion and Creative Services divisions in New York over the past few years and opened its first Middle East office through a joint venture with Dubai-based brand promotion specialist Sophie Toh. Established a live content division in London to work with live event production, social media content production, design and creative team.