British Gas splits from AA

Present Goldfish marketing director announced last month he is leaving the company to join Bradford & Bingley as managing director of Marketplace.

Waugh will report to Mark Clare, who will continue as Centrica deputy chief executive and assume control of British Gas. There are no immediate plans to change those marketing roles beneath Waugh.

At present British Gas Services, the engineering arm, and the AA roadside service are operating together. From January, the AA breakdown business will be grouped with the AA financial services operation and British Gas Services will be grouped with British Gas Trading, the gas and electricity provider.

Goldfish and the One.Tel international phone calls operation will continue as separate units.

Roger Wood, formerly managing director of British Gas Services with responsibility for AA roadside, has been appointed managing director of the AA. He also takes responsibility for AA financial services, previously managed by Clare.

The AA’s £10m advertising work, held by HHCL & Partners, is currently out to tender (MW September 6) although there are no plans to review British Gas, held by BMP DDB and EHS Realtime.