Top marketer in sideways move as BT rejigs team

BT is shifting group marketing and brand director Tim Evans to the role of chief customer officer, in a move insiders say will erode his “power base” at the telecoms giant.

Evans’ new position is understood to be a new, over-arching strategic role, which will include research as one of his main remits.

It is understood that Evans’ former responsibilities will be shared by John Petter and Julie Woods-Moss. Petter is chief operating officer for BT’s consumer division, while Woods-Moss has the title of vice-president of marketing for BT Global Services. Both report to BT group managing director Gavin Patterson.

Evans was appointed to his existing role in 2003 and has been a high-profile marketer at BT for several years, previously holding roles including marketing director for BT Retail’s consumer division and head of its small- to medium-enterprise business.

An industry source claims the decision to move Evans means his “communications empire has been broken up”. No one at BT, including Evans, was available for comment as Marketing Week went to press.

The changes mean the entire communications team will now report to Petter. The department was previously overseen by head of marketing communications Rebecca Morgan, but she is about to start her new role as chief strategy officer at embattled advertising agency Lowe London next month. Earlier this month, BT head of business direct marketing Lisa Shattock left the division to become senior campaign manager within BT Business. She reports to Chris Black, head of campaign planning and integration.