Barclays rejig continues with loss of top marketer

Barclays has lost one of its top, and longest-serving, marketers – commercial director Bruce Kelsall, who has left the bank without a job to go to. His role has been axed, and his responsibilities have been taken by Matt Hammerstein, who assumes the new role of retail marketing director.

A spokeswoman confirms that Kelsall has left the company after more than 20 years at the high street bank. She says Kelsall left to “pursue other opportunities”.

Kelsall was promoted from business banking marketing director last year, following an operational review implemented by UK banking marketing director Jim Hytner. The review saw Paul Morrish, marketing and commercial director for personal customers, leave the company, and his role redefined.

Kelsall was appointed internally to the vacant business banking post in 2003, and has held a number of other senior marketing positions at the bank (MW February 2003). Hammerstein, a former management consultant, has been promoted internally, having previously worked in strategy and planning across Barclays’ retail operations.

The appointment is one of a number of changes at Barclays following the appointment last year of Deanna Oppenheimer, chief executive of Barclays’ retail banking division. Earlier this month it announced it was cutting more than 1,200 jobs from its high street banking business following a shake-up at the Woolwich, the former building society it bought six years ago.

The Woolwich name will disappear from the high street after almost 150 years, with branches sold or rebranded as Barclays, but will be retained as the brand for mortgages provided by the group.