Mirror Group appoints Independent promotions manager

Mirror Group has appointed consultant Michelle Benato to the position of promotions manager for The Independent, with control over the titles’ advertising, agencies and brand development.

Benato, who was working as a consultant to The Independent’s promotions department, replaces Philip Boden who joined the title in January. Boden is leaving the newspaper industry; the paper claims the split is amicable.

Benato’s role as promotions manager is a key position in The Independent’s marketing structure. She will work with Simon Nelson, brand development manager.

She will report to the replacement for Charles Kirchner, the former brand development director and acting marketing director for all the Mirror Group titles. He left last month following the failure of The Independent’s video classics promotion.

Deputy managing director Roger Eastoe is in charge of the marketing department at present, but the company has been in talks with former News International promotions director Andrew Kitching.