A former business owner has been appointed to lead the expansion of a US firm into Europe and Asia having never met the people who hired him.

Chris Pollard got his job as managing director for Eurasia at marketing business CKC Global Media after he began talking to the company directors on Twitter.

The social media buff quit his role as partner at Connect it Communications, based in Chatham, to take the position after hitting it off with his new bosses online.

After talking to them on Twitter about his marketing ideas, he spoke to them via Skype and got his new job.

Mr Pollard plans to carry out most of his work on social media as well.

He said: “With the digital arena, there is no need to jump on a plane and meet someone. You can Skype them and save the money, time and effort.”

CKC Global Media principal and co-founder Ken Herron said: “Chris is a senior executive with the specific skills and global experience to connect with our customers in person and online.”