Toyota chief ‘frontrunner’ to replace ITV’s McCulloch
Former Toyota GB commercial director Mike Moran has emerged as the frontrunner for a similar role at ITV. The broadcaster is seeking to replace veteran commercial director Ian McCulloch, who left in May after 27 years.
Motoring consultant Moran is understood to be one of a handful of candidates shortlisted for the ITV commercial director role.
Sources claim Moran has had several meetings with the broadcaster and that he could be offered the role of managing director. Both roles would report to chief operating officer and group financial director John Cresswell.
Moran, a former global marketing chief of Thames Water and a former chairman of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, now runs The Orchard Consultancy and The Automotive Partnership.
ITV is thought to have been attracted by the way Moran used TV to build the Toyota brand in the UK, as well as the fact that he ran Ford in Spain.
ITV’s search for a commercial director hit difficulties last month after Jim Hytner and Phil Smith dropped out of the running (MW July 5). Other names linked to the role have included McCulloch’s deputy Gary Digby, head of sales at Channel 4 Andy Barnes, head of sales at BSkyB Nick Milligan and Thinkbox chief executive Tess Alps.
Moran left Toyota to join Thames Water as worldwide marketing and strategy director in 2003 (MW January 30, 2003) but left after 18 months when his role was axed. He was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.
