Top marketing post gets the chop in FT reshuffle

The Financial Times is axing its top marketing post, held by Gordon Willoughby, in a global overhaul of its marketing and advertising departments.

Willoughby, who holds the title of director of global marketing and content sales, joined the newspaper from United Distillers in 1998 as UK sales and marketing director (MW August 13, 1998). He is now looking at other options within the Pearson group, which owns the FT.

Willoughby’s role was a board position, and he reported to FT group chief executive officer Olivier Fleurot.

The FT is now recruiting for the new position of marketing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The position does not merit a seat on the board and the holder will report to the managing director for EMEA, a new post which has been handed to Zach Leonard, formerly the FT’s UK director. The company already has marketing directors for both the US and Asia .

UK marketing director Tim Ward left the newspaper to join Friends Reunited in May. His position is also likely to be axed.

Meanwhile, changes in the FT’s advertising structure see Ben Hughes promoted to the new role of worldwide advertising director. Previously director for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Hughes now takes responsibility for all global advertising sales operations, both in print and online.

In April, the FT was redesigned with new sections. The redesign was backed by a &£2m advertising campaign. Latest average net circulation figures for June show a month-on-month drop of 1.33 per cent, to 463,160 (Audit Bureau of Circulations).