Scottish Courage finalises new team

Scottish Courage marketing director John Nicolson is understood to have picked his new-look Edinburgh-based marketing team.

According to sources close to the company, Nicolson has trodden a careful line between the Scottish & Newcastle and Courage marketing departments in making the appointments.

It is believed Courage group marketing controller for lagers Simon Rhodes will head marketing for all lagers at the merged business, while S&N brands director Brian Sharp becomes head of all ales.

Courage’s media manager Audrey Lynas is understood to have been appointed head of the media department, and S&N’s marketing services manager Christian Haanested becomes head of marketing services.

Neither Courage nor S&N staff were available to confirm the appointments as Marketing Week went to press.

It is believed that further appointments have been made in other areas of the marketing department, including the formation of a new product development department under Courage ales controller John Roberts.

The appointments complete the integration of the marketing departments of Courage and S&N, which merged in August.

Courage marketing director Nicolson became marketing director for the combined Scottish Courage operation in the summer (MW August 11).

Scottish Courage has some 50 brands, and there is speculation that Nicolson will be forced to rationalise the portfolio. This could mean some of the smaller brands are either axed or have their marketing spends downgraded. There are clashes between a number of lagers and ales.