WCRS director to head marketing at client 3

WCRS business development director Julian Hough is moving to head marketing and communications at third-generation mobile phone company 3 – which is also a client of his agency.

Hough, who headed the team at WCRS which recently snatched 3’s &£38m advertising business from TBWA/London without a pitch, is joining the telecoms company on a sabbatical basis.

Hough, who will report to 3 chief operating officer Gareth Jones, is understood to be considering joining the company permanently.

The news comes as it emerges that 3 is restructuring its marketing team and moving its marketing chief Graeme Oxby to a new role within the company’s marketing department.

Oxby, who has been in the job as marketing director for less than a year, is returning to looking after product development and propositions. A spokesman for the company claims Oxby will retain his title as marketing director. Insiders claim this is not the case.

Hough will be 3’s third marketing chief in little more than a year. The launch was overseen by then marketing chief Lisa Gerner, who decided to step down and return to consultancy. She was replaced by Oxby, who was director of consumer marketing (MW July 10, 2003.) Hough was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.