Lloyds TSB picks Mars marketer as group head

Lloyds TSB has appointed a senior Mars marketer, Helen Stevenson, director of group marketing and UK retail banking strategy. Stevenson replaces Jayne Almond, who is leaving, but will remain at the bank as an adviser for the next six months.

Stevenson joins Lloyds TSB from Mars Group, where she was Pan-European marketing director for Masterfoods Europe. Prior to that, Stevenson held the position of marketingdirector for Mars Confectionery.

Stevenson starts work on January 6 and will report to group executive director for UK retail banking Eric Daniels. She will take on all of Almond’s previous responsibilities that, in addition to her product marketing and development functions, include running the European internet banking operation. Lloyds TSB’s Spanish online brand, Evolvebank, also falls under her remit.

Almond was appointed to the position only last January, when Lloyds TSB embarked on a restructure of its customer management roles (MW January 31). This led to the resignations of marketing communications director Adam Tusson, and group customer management Ford Ennals, who has since turned up at Britannia Music as managing director.

A Lloyds TSB spokeswoman says that Stevenson’s appointment will not affect Lloyds TSB’s agencies. Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R was appointed to the bank’s &£18m advertising account in January (MW January 17). Lloyds TSB is examining its advertising for the next year and has not yet decided whether it will continue to use actors John Thompson and Joely Richardson.