Virgin Direct boss quits in bust-up

Virgin Direct marketing director Andrew Inwood has suddenly left the company, after falling out with the financial services provider’s top management.

Inwood left on Monday, just three months after joining from Australian insurance giant AMP, a 50 per cent stake holder in Virgin Direct (MW July 16).

Virgin Direct marketing manager David Ramsbottom says: “He was an uncomfortable fit with the company. He didn’t entirely fit with the needs of the company, and he left because of that.” He says Inwood’s departure was “amicable”.

Ramsbottom says there is no replacement for Inwood at present. But Tony Wood, Inwood’s predecessor, has returned to the company after a six-month sabbatical in a loosely defined “marketing and PR” role.

Wood may be well-placed to take back the director’s post following Inwood’s departure. The role includes responsibility for marketing the PEP, pension and life insurance business.

In his time at the company, Inwood oversaw a review of its advertising arrangements with agency TBWA GGT Simons Palmer, which retained the business.

Virgin has also appointed Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe to undertake a brand study of Virgin Direct and Virgin One, its banking arm.