Whether it’s redundancy, the pull of a new opportunity or a leisurely retirement, big names at top brands and agencies come and go, just as in any industry.
From a Tesco win to a hectic week at Virgin Media O2 and one ITV senior’s entrepreneurial leanings – here are the latest movements:
The arrivals
People starting new jobs include:
Former Costa Coffee global commercial director makes move to Tesco: Tesco poached Costa Coffee’s former global commercial marketing and innovation director Becky Brock.
Writing on LinkedIn when she was hired back in June, Brock said “I’m delighted to announce that I’m going to be joining Tesco as a customer director to head up marketing and drive forward their digital personalisation process”.
Prior to her work at Costa where she led the businesses global growth agenda, Brock was transformation director at John Lewis & Partners.
Brock is also a non-executive director at The Marketing Society.
ISBA appoints new vice president: The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) has appointed Procter and Gamble senior vice president Europe and as its newest vice president.
In her role as president of the ISBA Taide will work with fellow vice president Sarah Mansfield to support Boot’s CMO Pete Markey in his role as the ISBA’s president.
Commenting on her appointment ISBA director general Phil Smith said: “Taide brings with her a wealth of experience from across the marketing spectrum. Her work on creating advertising that is accessible to all aligns with one of ISBA’s key priorities. I am looking forward continuing to work with her, both as ISBA Vice President and as one of the key sponsors of the Ad Access Alliance.”
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The departures
Leaders leaving businesses include:
Essity’s regional marketing director Ruth Gretsty departs: Essity’s marketing director Ruth Gretsty exited her role as the hygiene-focused brand’s regional marketing director.
In a statement to Campaign magazine a spokesperson for Essity said Gresty had left the business to “pursue her career externally”. Essity also said the position was being advertised both internally and externally.
Gretsty has worked in the sector for over 25 years at businesses including Kellog Company where she was marketing manager for five years, Durex and more.
ITV’s Chris Goldson leaves the broadcaster: Commencing with a Terry Pratchett quote, “People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around, ITV’s long-standing director of commercial marketing and pitch development announced he was leaving the business after almost 13 years.
Drawing on 34 years of experience at businesses including the BBC, Virgin Radio, Absolute Radio and ITV, Goldson has set up a pitching and presentation consultancy.
Virgin Media O2’s director of brand and head of media leave: Virgin Media O2’s director of brand and marketing Simon Groves has quit close to 25 years after he first worked at the business in 2000.
During his time at the business, Groves had been involved in integrating the former O2 and Virgin Media marketing teams as the two businesses merged.
In a statement shared with Campaign magazine, a Virgin Media O2 spokesperson thanked Groves for his “incredible dedication and contribution over the last 23 years at O2 and more recently at Virgin Media O2. His team member Neil Harrison also departed the same week according to Campaign.
Both departures come as two mega VCCP spots hit the television screen – the latest iteration of Virgin ‘To Better and Beyond’ spot featuring a walrus driving a speedboat, and the third film in O2’s ‘Only O2’ series starring the iconic Bubl mascot.
