SBHD:

Etam, the high-street fashion retailer, has parted company with marketing director Rob Thomas in the middle of its first search for an advertising agency. The 250-store group, which also includes Tammy and Snob clothes, reported a 24 per cent fall in pre-tax profits to 10.7m in the year to the end of January.

Allied Domecq saw pre-tax profits rise by 12.3 per cent to 701m in the year to March, though the Carlsberg-Tetley drinks division was ‘disappointing’, says the company. It did not comment on speculation that Tetley Tea would be the subject of a management buy-out…

…Grand Metropolitan, which includes drinks division IDV as well as brands like Häagen-Dazs, says its marketing and advertising spend will top 1bn for the first time this year. IDV saw operating profits down from 254m to 211m in the six months to end March, while the company’s overall profits were flat at 441m.

Guild Film Distributors has appointed David Willing, sales and marketing director at the Picture Production Company, as its marketing director to replace Paul Brett, who left earlier this year.

The Office of Fair Trading has rejected a European Commission application to have beer prices referred to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission.

The Daily Telegraph has denied it is cutting pagination by 20 per cent because of a newsprint supply problem. It has confirmed it will ‘manage’ its store of newsprint to make it last until a new supply contract begins in July.

Michael Peters Limited chairman Stephen Bennett is stepping down from his position to concentrate on parent company Princedale Group. Peter Sampson will take over as executive chairman.

Electricity customers could have their personal details passed on to direct marketing companies. Electricity bosses are talking to the Data Protection Registrar about proposals to sell their databases.

Alton Towers has appointed Andrew Bull as marketing manager. He was senior product manager at Golden Wonder, with responsibility for the NikNaks and Wotsits brands.

The Royal Shakespeare Company has appointed Michael Simmons to the new position of marketing manager. He was marketing manager for the UK arm of entertainment ticket retailer, Ticketmaster.