AA picks marketing head to run financial division

The AA has promoted sales and marketing director Clare Salmon to managing director of its newly merged AA Financial Services division.

Salmon, who is a former marketing director at insurance company Prudential, has headed the marketing team for three years at the AA. She oversaw its relaunch under the “Just AAsk” tagline to alter the perception of the AA from being just a breakdown company.

Andrew Briscoe, managing director of the now defunct AA Insurance Services, has decided to leave the company without a job to go to following the merger of the company’s loan and insurance businesses.

The company is looking for a marketing and strategy director to oversee advertising, e-commerce, brand strategy and affinity marketing across the group.

M&C Saatchi is the AA’s advertising agency, but below-the-line roster agency Rapier created the brand’s most recent “Kev and Bev” television campaign for car loans.

Roster agency EHS Brann’s business is being reviewed, with Salmon overseeing the pitch until the appointment of the marketing and strategy chief. A decision is due before Christmas. Manning Gottlieb OMD won its &£10m media buying and planning last year (MW November 14, 2002).

The AA is also planning to relaunch its car buying service early next year, together with a revamp of its website. It will offer potential purchasers of new and used cars a “buyer’s pack” and also offer new cars at fleet prices.

Centrica, which owns the AA, sold its Goldfish financial services brand to Lloyds TSB in August.