Marketing chief joins Blue Square exodus

Blue Square marketing head Peter Loveridge will leave the bookmaker this year to return to his native New Zealand.

His decision follows the departure of his boss, Edward Andrewes, who was poached from his position of commercial director to become managing director at rival Victor Chandler (MW May 6).

Loveridge served as marketing director at Blue Square before its acquisition by the Rank Group at the beginning of 2003. He was then promoted to head of marketing at Rank Interactive Gaming.

Prior to Blue Square, Loveridge was worldwide marketing controller for tennis at the Dunlop Slazenger Group, where he oversaw the relaunch of the Dunlop tennis brand.

Loveridge has decided to return to New Zealand to pursue other interests, although has no job to go to. He will stay at Blue Square until the autumn.

The company is searching for replacements for Loveridge and Andrewes, although it may decide to create a new marketing structure that will separate the business development aspects of both roles.

Blue Square is to open its first high street betting shop at the end of the summer. The store, which is intended to be the first of a chain, will be part of the Victoria Casino on Edgware Road in London, which is also owned by Rank.