F1 team Jordan’s head of brand steps down

Formula One team Jordan’s head of marketing and brand Mike Hall-Taylor has left the company after more than seven years, following Midland F1’s takeover of the team.

Hall-Taylor, who joined the team from Benson and Hedges, was previously chief marketing officer for Jordan Brand, the team’s licensing and merchandising division. He took on more responsibility when Jordan’s marketing director Mark Gallagher left in 2003. It is not known if he has a job to go to.

Trading and investment organisation Midland Group took over Jordan last month in a deal rumoured to be worth &£26.6m. It has appointed Christian Geistdoerfer to be marketing director of Midland F1, but he will not directly replace Hall-Taylor.

The future of the team is uncertain. The name will be used this season but is then set to disappear. Eddie Jordan is expected to stand down from his role as team boss.

Jordan has won four Grand Prix since its creation in 1991, but has suffered a slump in form over the past two years because of a lack of funding and an increase in manufacturer-based teams.