Turtle Wax marketing head in sudden exit

Steve Chandler, the head of marketing for Holt Lloyd, the car cleaning company which distributes Turtle Wax products, has left abruptly.

Chandler left the company less than six months after he had joined the Cheshire-based business. It is understood he left on bad terms.

A spokesman for the business comments: “The speed of departure suggests he is unlikely to return.”

Paul Haddock, senior brand manager at Holt Lloyd, is currently acting in the marketing role until a replacement can be found.

The company makes a range of its own car lubricants, such as Color Magic and Holts. It also distributes the US car cleaning brand Turtle Wax.

McCann-Erickson (Manchester) handles Holts brands, while J Walter Thompson (Manchester) advertises Turtle Wax. Before Chandler left he was understood to be preparing an agency review.

Turtle Wax has not advertised on TV for a number of years and it was thought that Chandler was keen to give the brand a higher profile.

The biggest recent advertising spend for Holt was in 1994, when the company delayed 2m promoting its range.