Former FA chief set for move to Ogilvy Group

Former Football Association marketing chief Paul Barber is set to join the Ogilvy Group in an undisclosed role within its public relations division. He is poised to sign a contract with WPP Group-owned Ogilvy later this week.

Barber was ousted from the FA at the end of November last year by chief executive Mark Palios, following a restructure of the organisation’s marketing department (MW December 4, 2003).

Barber, with former chief executive Adam Crozier, has been credited with turning the FA into a successful commercial organisation. He was also linked with the chief executive’s job at the FA.

Barber refuses to confirm his move to Ogilvy but adds that an announcement about his new role is imminent. Barber says: “There will be an announcement next week, but I have not yet formally put pen to paper and there are issues to finalise.”

Before working at the FA, Barber was director of communications for the retail arm of Barclays Bank. He has also held marketing positions at Inchcape and Abbey National.

The FA no longer has a formal marketing structure, as Barber’s marketing organisation has been divided between newly created commercial and communications teams. Wembley marketing director Jonathan Hill has been made commercial director for the FA, while former Daily Mail sports editor Colin Gibson heads the communications team.

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