Scottish Courage promotes brand chief to consumer marketing role

Scottish Courage has promoted brands director Andy Neal to the newly created role of consumer marketing director. Neal will assume responsibility for all brand marketing activities and will continue to report to Scottish Courage’s UK marketing director, Tony McGrath.

Former United Distillers marketing chief Neal previously looked after Scottish Courage’s Beck’s, Kronenbourg and Miller brands. He joined Scottish Courage in 2001 from his position as managing director of outdoor media company More Group in Scotland (MW December 6, 2001).

Neal’s new role has been created from the merger of Scottish Courage’s two brand directorships. The brewer’s other brands director, John Botia – who was responsible for the Foster’s and John Smith’s brands – has joined Scottish Courage’s regional on-trade division as managing director of Newcastle Breweries, the company’s North-east sales arm.

Botia succeeds Willie Crawshay, who was appointed general manager of Bulmers following Scottish Courage’s acquisition of the cider business in April.

It has been rumoured that Bulmers group marketing director Jon Eggleton will be leaving the company. It is believed that Eggleton is not interested in relocating to Scotland, where the Scottish Courage marketing team is based (MW July 31).

Leo Burnett won the &£8m advertising account for Bulmers in June. The business was previously split between TBWA/London, which handled the majority of the business including the flagship Strongbow brand, and Abbott Mead Vickers.BDDO. Leo Burnett pitched against M&C Saatchi, Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners and the incumbent agencies (MW June 12).