Virgin Money marketing chief quits after nine months in post

Virgin Money marketing director Peter Ballard has left his job suddenly after less than nine months in the post.

Ballard, who reports to chief executive Paul Pester, left at the end of last week. It is not thought he has a job to go to.

He was previously marketing director of financial services website Virginmoney and landed the Virgin Money job in July after Virginmoney and Virgin Direct were merged.

Ballard’s departure comes less than three months after the company launched its high profile credit card in partnership with MBNA Europe Bank. He declined to say if he had a job to go to or to discuss the circumstances behind his departure. He says: “Everything is quite sudden. I’m not prepared to say any more.”

A spokeswoman for Virgin Money confirmed that Ballard had left the company and added that it was too early to say who would replace him.

According to a source from outside the company, his departure is believed to have “sparked uproar” as Ballard was well liked by the marketing team.

Virgin Money is a joint venture between Australian financial services company AMP and the Virgin Group. The company offers ISAs, pensions, life insurance and unit trusts.

Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/ Y&R handles Virgin Money’s advertising and Harrison Troughton Wunderman is the company’s direct marketing agency.