Rover hit by departure of Mini head

Patrick Fleming, marketing director for the Rover Mini, has left the company less than a month after being promoted. He is joining Ford-owned Aston Martin.

Fleming was promoted from Mini brand manager to marketing director at the start of last month (MW February 3).

His departure is yet another in a long line at the troubled car company’s marketing department.

Last month, Paul Willis, Rover managing director for sales and marketing, defected to Volkswagen.

Fleming, who joins Aston Martin as products marketing manager, was promoted internally to Mini marketing director after Rover parent BMW decided to split Rover’s marketing department into individual marques. Until then, Rover marketing director John Sanders had overseen marketing of the Mini.

A Rover spokesman said the company was seeking a replacement.