3 Marketers likely to be hit in round of redundancies

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Marketers at third-generation mobile phone operator 3 are on alert after the company announced it was making 130 managers redundant.

It is understood the marketing department is likely to be affected by the cuts, although it is not thought the brand’s most senior marketers, Graeme Oxby and Gary Pepler, are in danger.

A 3 spokesman says the company has decided to "rebalance resources" by cutting 130 "core function" roles, equivalent to 6% of 3’s UK workforce.

The spokesman would not comment on individuals but adds that the job cuts will be at "every level of the business and across a number of departments".3 appointed former Sony marketer Pepler as director of brand and marketing communications in the summer (MW June 15). He reports to marketing director Oxby.

Pepler’s appointment followed Julian Hough’s return to advertising agency WCRS after two years on secondment as the telecoms company’s marketing chief (MW June 8).3 UK recently appointed Kevin Russell as deputy chief executive. Russell, who previously ran 3 Australia, is tipped by some to take over from chief executive Bob Fuller. Gareth Jones, the company’s chief operating officer and Fuller’s number two, left at the end of last year.

Some industry observers believe the redundancies are a sign that the business is up for sale.

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