Clear Channel UK appoints chief after team shake-up

Clear Channel UK has appointed Pip Hainsworth as marketing director following the departure of Yvonne O’Brien last year (MW July 28).

Clear Channel UK has appointed Pip Hainsworth as marketing director following the departure of Yvonne O’Brien last year (MW July 28).

Hainsworth’s previous role was at communications effectiveness consultancy Media Audits, where she was UK managing director until last July. At the time, she was reported to have left after two years in the post to pursue other opportunities.

It is understood she initially joined Clear Channel as marketing manager, but has now been confirmed as a direct replacement for O’Brien, with a marketing and research remit encompassing all of the UK company’s outdoor products, including billboards, Adshel and the Taxi Media network. She will report directly to UK interim chief executive Barry Sayer.

Hainsworth was managing director at WPP Group-owned CDP Media from 1995 to 2003, having begun her career at Saatchi & Saatchi in business development.

O’Brien, who had been with Clear Channel for six years when she quit in October, subsequently joined Universal McCann in the new role of UK research director. She joined the media agency in November as part of its plans to build its research resources.

Meanwhile, Clear Channel has confirmed the resignation of UK group managing director Julie France this week. Her departure is understood to be connected with revelations that she accidentally e-mailed confidential information about volume-rebate deals involving competing agencies (MW last week).

Clear Channel has also secured a &£78m contract to run advertising across 2,000 bus shelter panels in Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and Wakefield. It was appointed by Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and will handle 250 shelters as part of a ten-year contract.