Centrica telecoms chief quits in marketing rejig

Centrica Telecommunications’s top marketer for its telecoms division, Phil Hendey, has left the company following a restructure of the business. The restructure is a result of Centrica’s increased focus on marketing telecoms as an offering to its consumers.

Under the new marketing structure, Hendey’s commercial director position at Centrica no longer exists. Instead Centrica is on the lookout for a new telecoms marketing director.

Hendey was responsible for the One.Tel mobile phone business and British Gas Communications fixed-line offering. He reported to the Centrica Telecoms managing director Ian El-Mokadem.

The telecoms division has also appointed three separate heads for its mobile phone, fixed-line and Internet products, all of whom will report to the new marketing chief. The marketing of British Gas Communications will continue to be led by the British Gas division.

A spokesman for Centrica says: “The telecoms business has already introduced mobile, broadband and Internet services and now we need to market these services to consumers.”

Hendey joined Centrica last May from Internet company ClickSure. Prior to that he was the head of brand management and product marketing at Orange. After leaving Orange, he joined Cable & Wireless as vice-president, brand.

Early this year One.Tel appointed Communications Solutions agency to spearhead its &£7m launch into mobile phones later this year. British Gas’ creative agency, BMP DDB, will continue to devise ads for Centrica’s fixed-line services.

Centrica also operates under the Scottish Gas, the Automobile Association and Goldfish brands.