Ribena boss axed in SB restructure

The marketing director for Ribena, Lucozade, and Horlicks, Andrew Armstrong has been made redundant, following the reorganisation of SmithKline Beecham’s nutritional healthcare department.

From now on, the category directors for each product will report directly to the general manager, dispensing with the need for the marketing director’s role.

A spokeswoman for the company says Armstrong’s redundancy is part of the realignment of the business, which no longer sees the need for a marketing director for all the brands.

Armstrong’s departure follows last month’s appointment of Peter Harding, who joined the nutritional healthcare department as marketing category director for Lucozade. He was previously a marketing manager at Scottish Courage brewery.

SmithKline Beecham has not decided whether Armstrong will be employed elsewhere in the consumer healthcare department. It is understood he has not been offered a job by another company.