Waugh role at Centrica left in doubt

Centrica global marketing director Simon Waugh’s position at the company is in doubt following the termination of the company’s group marketing function.

Insiders suggest that Waugh is looking for a new role within Centrica. The move is part of Centrica’s cost-cutting exercise, which will include a cull of 850 jobs across all its brands.

The group marketing function has been disbanded and the individual brands will instead run their own marketing teams. As a result, British Gas director of marketing Nick Smith has been given additional responsibility for commercial sales. The company is aiming to achieve savings of £90m in 2005. Reports suggest that British Gas lost 220,000 customers in the first quarter of the year because of a 5.9 per cent rise in prices.

A Centrica spokesman says: “Simon is not leaving and he will continue in his role as the group marketing director. He will continue to lead the strategic co-ordination of Centrica brands.”