P&G to downgrade half of marketing directors

Procter & Gamble is to downgrade half of its marketing directors to the more junior position of associate marketing director, as part of a worldwide reorganisation initiated by global marketing officer Jim Stengel.

Procter & Gamble is to downgrade half of its marketing directors to the more junior position of associate marketing director, as part of a worldwide reorganisation initiated by global marketing officer Jim Stengel.

A P&G UK spokeswoman says that it is not known to what extent the move will affect the company’s six UK marketing directors.

The reclassified marketing directors will not have their pay cut and will not necessarily lose their job titles, although they will be recognised as a rank lower than marketing director in P&G’s internal classification.

A spokeswoman for P&G in the US claims that the regrading has been “positively received”. However, it is understood that Stengel has acknowledged some marketing directors may leave rather than accept the loss of status.

The reorganisation, which involves the reintroduction of a post ranking between brand manager and general manager that was axed ten years ago, is designed to reflect different levels of responsibility.

The spokeswoman says: “We looked at the job complexity and influence of those in the marketing director role across the world and saw that there needed to be a recalibration, as some had greater responsibility than others.”

The reorganisation is designed to encourage marketers to stay in their positions to complete projects and become specialists in their areas over several years.

The shake-up will also give brand managers an opportunity to advance more rapidly into a marketing career at the lower-ranking level.