BMI shakes up marketing division

The airline BMI is reviewing the structure of its marketing department, following the departure of commercial director Adrian Parkes earlier this year.

Peter Spencer, previously senior manager of commercial operations for Qatar Airways, is currently overseeing the commercial director role, which also includes global marketing.

Spencer arrived at the company from the Middle East in August, shortly before Parkes left to take up the role of vice-president for sales at Etihad Airlines in Abu Dhabi.

BMI says there is an “ongoing review” of the structure of the business and that it had not yet decided whether it would seek a new commercial director.

Last year, BMI appointed former Barclays and British Airways marketer Andrew Dufty to the position of general marketing manager, reporting to commercial director Spencer.

Last month, the airline added 17 new routes to its portfolio, including flights to Sierra Leone and other African destinations, several cities in the former Soviet Union, and Middle Eastern destinations including Beirut and Damascus.

The airline is using Belgian agency Communsense to promote the new routes overseas with the strapline: “Time for a better service to London”.