HP Bulmer chief moves to global Domecq post

Cider maker HP Bulmer is losing consumer marketing director Mark Doorbar, who is leaving to take up a senior position in new product development at Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines.

Doorbar, who leaves Bulmer on March 17, will report to product development and information director Ian Jamieson. His departure comes as Bulmer starts working with ad agency GGT on its Strongbow brand.

A spokesman for Bulmer says: “In his time here, he has seen Strongbow jump in the long drinks league from 14 to 12. There has been a turnaround in the image of cider in the Nineties and Mark Doorbar has played a critical role in this.”

However, Bulmer is still reeling from its last set of poor financial results, published in December. These showed turnover was down by over five per cent to 154.2m and pre-tax profits declined 17.5 per cent to 14.3m for the six months to the end of October. John Rudgard, Bulmer’s chief executive, said at the time: “There is no doubt the market is difficult and sales have been very disappointing.” The decline in profits was partly blamed on a hefty increase in ad spend behind Strongbow. Total spend increased 82 per cent in the year to September.

No replacement has been announced for Doorbar.

News story, page 12