Lloyds TSB marketing chief likely to take on HBOS brands

Nigel Gilbert, Lloyds TSB group marketing director, is understood to be in line for the top marketing role if the bank’s merger with HBOS goes ahead.

Gilbert would take control of brands including Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Intelligent finance. It is thought that Lloyds TSB brands such as Scottish Widows – where the marketing director post is unfilled – would also fall under his remit, in addition to Lloyds TSB.

Sources suggest that Gilbert – the architect of Lloyds TSB’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic Games and brand overhaul under the “For the Journey” banner – is seen as a safe pair of hands. It is likely that he would lead a restructure of the merged marketing divisions and any subsequent reviews of the agency roster.

It is understood that senior management at both companies are “keen” to retain HBOS’s chief marketer Philip Hanson in a senior role.

A Lloyds TSB spokeswoman says no decisions have been made beyond the executive team already outlined.

All but one of the executives appointed to run Lloyds Banking Group will come from Lloyds TSB. The leadership team will include Lloyds TSB chief executive Eric Daniels and UK retail director Helen Weir in the same roles at Lloyds Banking Group.

It is unlikely that Lloyds will confirm the next level of executives until shareholders at both banks give the deal the green light. They are due to meet in December.

A number of attempts have been made to derail the proposed merger, including purported rival bids.