Bupa recruits top marketer

Healthcare insurer Bupa has appointed marketing consultant Pat Stafford as its new UK marketing director, following Bruce Tranter’s controversial resignation last month (MW October 2).

Stafford, who has been working on a consultancy basis with Bupa, is a former senior marketing executive with British Airways and Mars.

On January 12 next year she will take control from Peter Jones, former head of PR at BA, who joined Bupa as head of corporate communications in June. He temporarily took over Tranter’s role last month.

Tranter’s surprise exit followed reports of a review of Bupa’s 8m ad account with Ogilvy & Mather, which Bupa vehemently denied. The controversy is thought to have prompted Tranter’s resignation.