Bmi considers restructure after marketing chief quits

Bmi head of marketing Amanda Burns is leaving the company at the end of the month after taking voluntary redundancy. She does not have a job to go to.

The airline’s commercial director, Adrian Parkes, will take over her responsibilities, and will oversee the marketing operation before deciding whether to appoint a direct replacement or restructure the department.

Burns has been with bmi for seven years in a variety of marketing roles, including marketing manager. She was promoted to head of marketing in 2003 following the departure of marketing director Simon Gregory (MW July 24, 2003). She previously worked at Britrail as a marketing manager.

After Gregory’s departure the company ditched the role of marketing director and appointed Parkes as commercial director, overseeing the marketing and sales divisions. The airline has independent marketing divisions in its overseas markets, which are strategically led by the UK department.

Parkes denies speculation that bmi is looking for an ad agency to replace incumbent Euro RSCG on its £6m account. The agency has handled the accounts for bmi and bmibaby since its merger with Partners BDDH in 2003.

Bmi, which is the UK’s second-largest full-service airline, is overhauling its service and pricing structure. The changes include dropping business class on all flights on its core business routes to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast City and Brussels.