Teletext hires Mars man to develop Internet and digital

Teletext, the TV text news and advertising service, has appointed veteran marketer Simon Curry as marketing director.

Curry, a senior brand manager at Mars, takes up the post in January. He will report to commercial director Lawrence Lawson and be responsible for developing Teletext’s analogue, digital TV and Internet strategy.

A spokeswoman says: “Teletext is a trusted brand with an audience of 22 million a week. But there are opportunities offered by new media, such as the Net and digital, to develop the brand.”

Curry replaces Gary Bean, who left in July after seven years to set up his own training and development consultancy (MW July 7).

Before joining Mars in summer 1997, Curry was marketing manager at Bass. He hit the headlines in 1995 when he left Rothmans – where he was brand manager – with two other senior executives: brand manager Janine Hawkins and marketing director Charles Kirchner. The trio joined sports shoe company Hi-Tec in senior marketing and sales roles, but were made redundant a few months later.

Teletext advertising is handled through St Luke’s, which uses commercials portraying the brand as part of consumers’ everyday lives. It is thought an ad push will start in February. At the same time, Teletext is moving to a new head office.