Cooper was ousted by Eurotunnel

Eurotunnel’s ex-director of sales and marketing Neil Cooper is understood to have been ousted from the company, with no grounds given for his dismissal.

Last week, the beleaguered Eurotunnel marketing department announced that Cooper was leaving the company by “mutual agreement”.

The company also said that his role would be split in two (MW March 24).

It has emerged this week, however, that Cooper was told to leave – a full year before his contract expires.

It is understood he is taking legal advice.

Eurotunnel is still maintaining that Cooper’s departure was by mutual agreement.

Cooper’s exit follows a series of reorganisations within Eurotunnel’s marketing department and the departure of commercial director Christopher Garnett in February.

One source close to the company says: “The real question is how many people are there in Eurotunnel’s marketing department who have extensive experience of marketing. Eurotunnel has had a lot of problems lately and it seems the scapegoat is in the marketing department.”

Meanwhile Phillipe Maurier has been appointed marketing manager at Eurotunnel’s Calais office. He reports to Jean Paul Courant – European sales and marketing director.

Maurier replaces marketing consultant Veronique Assachar, who has left the company.