HIT scraps senior role in marketing revamp

Toy and independent production company HIT Entertainment has made its director of marketing communications role redundant following a restructure of its marketing setup.

Anthony Evans, who held the position, is in talks over another role at the company.

HIT previously had a standalone marketing department with two separate brand teams. The restructure has seen the marketing team split into two to operate separately within each brand team. Director of European sales and marketing services Dave King will continue to oversee all marketing activity.

Evans was formerly head of marketing at rival production company Gullane Entertainment prior to its acquisition by HIT in July 2002 for &£139m.

The deal saw Gullane’s Thomas the Tank Engine brand added to HIT’s roster of children’s characters, led by its Bob the Builder range.

HIT’s marketing team has already undergone restructuring this year. In January, marketing director Hayley Fraser-MacKenzie became brand business director as HIT switched to focus on building global brands. Marketing manager Nicola Duhig joined in July.

Bob the Builder’s position as the UK’s leading pre-school character is under threat from Tractor Tom, which launched in the UK in February.

Vivid Imaginations holds the Tractor Tom toy licence in the UK.

HIT is also planning to launch a new TV series of its Pingu character. Pingu was originally screened in 1986, but no new episodes have been made for several years. HIT plans to screen a further 52 shows next year.