Top AXA Insurance marketer to depart after restructure

AXA Insurance head of marketing Stuart Gitsham is leaving the company without a job to go to, following a restructure of the marketing team, led by AXA Insurance marketing director Iain Watt.

Gitsham, who has worked at AXA for ten years, says: “It was time to move on.” Watt joined AXA as interim marketing director in February 2002. His position was made permanent in October.

In a separate move, David Brooks, head of marketing communications at AXA Sun Life, has moved to head the life insurance company’s investment marketing team. He has been replaced by Andreas Wasmuht, previously head of e-commerce. A spokesman says: “Because so much of e-commerce is communications-related, Wasmuht’s new role will incorporate e-commerce as well.”

AXA UK is currently in the middle of an agency review of its &£10m creative account (MW January 16). The successful agency will create advertising across AXA’s three core brands: AXA Sun Life, AXA Insurance and AXA PPP Healthcare. TBWA/London is the incumbent agency, but its contract ends in the spring.