Whitbread in fresh marketing rejig

Whitbread has further restructured its marketing department after merging sales and marketing directorships under Stewart Gilliland.

Phil Rumbol, formerly marketing manager for Heineken, has been made director of brand communication within the company. He will be responsible for sponsorship, PR and new media.

Rachel Johnson has been recruited to replace Rumbol in his old position, after working as marketing controller for Horlicks at Smith-Kline Beecham.

These are the first changes since Gilliland took over following promotion of former marketing director John Derkach to manag-ing director of the hotels-to-brewing giant’s Beefeater restaurant chain.

Gilliland says: “I am confident that the restructured marketing team will continue to successfully develop and market some of the UK’s leading brands.”

Whitbread recently lost Tracey Darwen, marketing controller for Stella Artois, the company’s biggest beer brand. Her departure prompted a rejig of positions.