118 118 chief takes advisory role after global restructure

The Number 118 118 European chief executive Mark Horgan (pictured) has left his position and moved into an advisory role with the directory service company as part of a global restructure.

Horgan’s position has now been made redundant, with Christine Baumeister taking the new global role of chief operating officer for The Number’s parent company kgb.

Baumeister has been with the company for 12 years and was most recently global chief technology officer at kgb. Her other roles have included director of European affairs for France, Switzerland and Austria. She was also corporate vice-president, vice-president of product development and director of telecommunications.

Horgan was elevated from UK chief executive to the European role in May 2007. He was subsequently replaced in the UK by former Superdrug marketing director Gerry Murphy.

Murphy, who had previously reported to Horgan, will now report to Baumeister.

Before joining kgb, Horgan was executive director of the now defunct MFI Group between 1999 and 2005. He has also held marketing positions at Mars, United Biscuits and Nestlé.

In February, 118 118 launched an ad campaign featuring the brand’s iconic runners alongside Ghostbusters singer Ray Parker Jnr and a new version of his Eighties hit.

The ad was created by the Brooklyn Brothers and features Parker Jr taking on a number of characters alongside the 118 118 runners, including a bus conductor.

118 118 is also reviewing its £14m UK media planning and buying account. It has shortlisted incumbents OMD and BLM Quantum – the digital arm of Arena BLM – together with ZenithOptimedia and Mediaedge:cia to compete for its consolidated media business. The pitch is being handled by Oystercatchers.