Hitachi arm calls review of marketing arrangements

Leeds-based financial services company Hitachi Capital is to review all of its agency arrangements and marketing following the appointment of group head of marketing David Swift.

The role was created after Hitachi Capital decided to restructure its divisions and create a central marketing team (MW March 17). Previously, every division had its own marketing manager and appointed its own agencies.

A spokesperson for the group confirms that Hitachi Capital will look at each of its agency relationships and will be reviewing its creative account, direct marketing, events management, media planning and buying and public relations.

The Black Hole, a Leeds-based agency, handles much of Hitachi Capital’s advertising and it is not known how it will be affected. A Hitachi Capital spokesperson says that a brief will be put together and agencies invited to pitch within a number of weeks.

Swift will also re-evaluate Hitachi Capital’s marketing budget, which is currently £2m. The former Halifax Bank of Scotland marketer will report to group business development director Martin Cutbill, who was also recruited from HBOS last July, and will head up a team of 13 marketers tasked to create brand consistency across the group.