CurrantBun loses ‘head baker’
Ellis Watson has quit suddenly as general manager of News International’s free Internet service provider (ISP) CurrantBun.com, after less than four months in the role.
The self-styled “head baker” has been working on the ISP since December, prior to its launch in April.
Watson was previously marketing director of The Sun and News of the World, before moving to head CurrantBun.com at the newly formed division, News International Digital Publishing (NIDP).
He handed in his notice at the end of last week and is out of the country on holiday with his family. It is understood Watson intends to launch a new media venture.
In July, Alasdair MacLeod, former general manager of Times Newspapers, was brought in over Watson as managing director of NIDP.
An NI spokeswoman says: “The company parted on good terms with Ellis, but I have no idea what he will do next.”
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is unlikely to back a Watson start-up in the foreseeable future.
News Corp is investing in new media companies through ePartners – created in April and headed by former BSkyB chief executive Mark Booth.
