Laura Ashley marketing director quits

Laura Ashley has been thrown into disarray this week with the unexpected departure of marketing director Karen Levi.

The company is restructuring its marketing department following Levi’s announcement that she is leaving to start up her own marketing venture.

She leaves at the end of December, but is working on freelance marketing projects, a spokesman says.

Chief executive Ann Iverson is seeking a replacement. She has also created a new marketing position with the promotion of marketing manager Anne Donaghy to director of marketing services. Donaghy will report to the marketing director. A replacement will also be needed for her.

A spokesman says Levi, former Mulberry marketing manager, chose to leave because of recent changes. In September, Iverson announced she intended to cut product lines because the retailer had lost its identity.