Kehoe is frontrunner for top marketing role at Yell

Yell is tipped to appoint head of marketing strategy and communications Catherine Kehoe as its marketing chief following the sudden exit of Ann Francke.

Insiders say Kehoe, who is currently overseeing the directories publisher’s &£20m advertising review, is the frontrunner to succeed Francke, who left last month (MW July 20).

But it is not clear whether she will get Francke’s chief marketing officer title, with some sources suggesting Kehoe will be made the non-board level marketing director initially.

Kehoe joined Yell from BT last year and worked closely with Francke on the advertising pitch, which was called in April after the company ended its 23-year relationship with Abbott Mead Vickers. BBDO. Mother and Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest are in the final stages of pitching for the account.

Francke, who had been at Yell for two years, left after apparently losing a power struggle at the company. Sources say she felt her power base had been “marginalised” because she had little control over the Yell.com part of the business.

Francke left Boots in 2003 in similar circumstances. She called a pitch after being appointed as strategic marketing director at the retailer, but was ousted after just eight months as part of a restructure (MW October 20, 2003).

No one at Yell was available for comment as Marketing Week went to press.