PDSA starts hunt for head of marketing

Veterinary charity PDSA is looking for a director of marketing and income generation following the departure of Hugh Thomas.

It is understood that Thomas has already left the company and has no job to go to.

PDSA is the country’s largest veterinary charity, treating more than 4,500 sick pets a day belonging to people who cannot afford vets fees. It does not have government or lottery funding, and relies entirely on donations and its commercial ventures, including a chain of 168 shops.

Last year, PDSA began selling marble and granite pet gravestones. It sells pet insurance alongside car, life and home insurance as part of a tie-up with Cornhill Insurance. It also offers a credit card, a Christmas catalogue and a prize draw.

In 2001, the charity ditched its former title of People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals in favour of its current name, and Team Saatchi created a campaign to promote its new identity with the slogan “for pets that need vets”.

The charity uses direct marketing agencies Watson Phillips Norman and the Domain Group. The PDSA has spent £29m during the past 12 months on veterinary assistance. It runs 46 PetAid hospitals around the country as well as offering its services out of existing private veterinary practices.