NS&I marketing director moves to private sector
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is looking for a top marketer following the resignation of marketing director Jill Cattanach.
Cattanach is returning to Scotland to become head of marketing at Alliance Trust, an investment specialist based in Dundee. She has been with the Government-backed savings and investments provider since 1998 and has held a seat on its executive board since 2000.
During her tenure, Cattanach oversaw a rebrand, carried out by Citigate Lloyd Northover in February last year. This was followed by an advertising review, which saw NS&I’s &£5m advertising account handed to Walsh Trott Chick Smith. A review of direct marketing was also carried out and EHS Brann reappointed to the account.
In October, NS&I resigned a long-term distribution deal with the Post Office. It is considering applications from other distribution channels such as supermarkets and petrol stations. NS&I was originally created out of the Post Office Bank in 1971.
NS&I has recently drawn criticism from private sector financial services companies, which through the Association of British Insurers claimed it benefits form an unfair competitive advantage because it is not regulated. Premium Bonds accounted for &£7.5bn of total sales of &£12.7bn for 2003 to 2004. A new regular saver variant of the Premium Bond was launched last month, supported by advertising on Classic FM (MW October 14).
