British Gas ups marketing team

Centrica-owned British Gas is to create two positions – head of customer retention and head of customer relationship – in a bid to beef up its marketing department.

Once appointed, the new employees will work alongside the existing marketers who report to British Gas director of marketing and strategy Nick Smith.

Two years ago, the energy company appointed former Coca-Cola marketer Andrew Mann as head of marketing (MW February 15, 2001). Mann is responsible for advertising, campaign planning and affinity marketing.

Mann’s appointment was followed by the appointment of food marketer Rupert Trevelyan to the role of head of segment marketing (MW March 22, 2001). Trevelyan was previously UK head of promotions at food company The Compass Group’s international branded food service division.

British Gas recently appointed Clemmow Hornby Inge to handle its £30m advertising account, in place of BMP DDB, incumbent on the business for 12 years (MW May 8).

The two agencies were shortlisted alongside WCRS and M&C Saatchi to pitch for the business.

Last year the utility company consolidated its media planning and buying into Carat. The agency was appointed following a four-way battle that pitched incumbents Carat and OMD UK against MindShare and Zenith Media (MW May 30, 2002).