Pet charity PDSA seeks marketing director

PDSA, the UK’s largest veterinary charity, is looking for a marketing director to raise its brand profile.

It follows the departure of Jon Bodenham earlier this year. It is not clear if he had a job to go to. Interim marketing director Mike Crosley is overseeing the role until a replacement is found.

The new marketing director will be responsible for the PDSA brand and raising its public profile, and will report to McLoughlin. The charity spends £6.6m on advertising and uses Feel Agency, Tangible Response and Good Agency Group.

Tangible was appointed in May to handle direct marketing for its charitable veterinary service PetAid. Earlier that month, it also appointed digital agency Cheeze to boost online revenue and acquisition of younger customers.

In 2001, the charity ditched its former title of People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals in favour of its current name. The change was supported by a campaign, which was created by Team Saatchi and aimed to promote its new strapline “For Pets That Need Vets”.

PDSA provides free veterinary treatment through a network of 43 PetAid hospitals. It does not have government or lottery funding, and relies entirely on commercial ventures, including a chain of 168 shops.

The charity says it has plans to “further extend” its services, and adds that the marketing director will be “key” to its development.