L&G loses Hopper and Matthews

Legal & General’s first director of marketing, Paul Hopper, and Helen Matthews, head of brand, advertising and communications, are leaving the insurance giant.

Hopper had responsibility for co-ordinating marketing throughout the group, including corporate advertising and the L&G brand. He joined the company in April last year and was previously with the Royal Mail, where he was marketing and sales director. Before that, he worked for British Airways.

He reported to Robin Phipps, managing director sales and marketing. Matthews, who reported to Hopper and had been at L&G for five years, is thought to be joining a large legal partnership in a marketing role.

The departures are understood to be unrelated and it is not known where Hopper is going, though he is likely to take up a similar role within the industry.

Last November, L&G’s group communications director, Sue Green, quit the company to become a consultant. Green, who created the “Trust us to Deliver” campaign five years ago, was replaced by Hopper, who took over her responsibility for advertising and promotion, and Hedley Ramshaw, who inherited her PR and sponsorship responsibilities.