Miss Selfridge loses top marketer

Miss Selfridge marketing director Simon Mills has quit, leaving the Sears womenswear group, which comprises Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Richards and Warehouse, with no marketers at board level.

Mills, who was responsible for retail and marketing, left with no job to go to and will not be replaced. Head of marketing Sarah Baskcomb is now the most senior marketer at Miss Selfridge and reports to managing director Bernie Foster.

Wallis and Warehouse also employ heads of marketing, while Richards has a marketing manager.

A takeover bid for Sears by entrepreneur Philip Green was rejected in late December, but further approaches are expected.

It has been suggested that marketing and advertising are being downgraded in preparation for a sell-off.

Richards was hit with 25 redundancies late last year and store development was put on hold. Richards marketing manager Jenny Clements reports to human resources director John Roberts.

Wallis marketing director Fiona Davis, who left the company to join The Early Learning Centre in April, has not been replaced and three other marketing positions were cut.

Carole Simpson was promoted to head of marketing (MW December 3) and reports to managing director Pat Burnett.

Wallis has confirmed it has axed Bartle Bogle Hegarty’s “Dress to Kill” campaign and says there are no plans for new advertising. Warehouse, Richards and Miss Selfridge are not advertising at present.