Phil Rumbol to leave Cadbury

Phil Rumbol is to leave his position as UK marketing director at Cadbury in the summer after turning down a job with Kraft, the company has confirmed today (21 April).

Cadbury's gorilla
Cadbury’s gorilla

Rumbol, who is credited as the architect of Cadbury’s major marketing campaigns, including ’gorilla’ and ’eyebrows’, had been asked by Kraft Foods to “apply his talents across the combined European organisation” with a senior position in the company’s European Chocolate Category business based in Zurich. He has been UK marketing director at Cadbury since 2006.

Cadbury’s former European president Tamara Minick-Scokalo joined Kraft Foods Europe as president of its chocolates division last month.

Rumbol said the timing isn’t right to relocate his family: “Despite an opportunity to join the Kraft Foods Category Leadership team in Zurich, I feel now is an opportune time to leave the business and try something new. I wish everyone in the new organisation every success for the future.”

Only 12 of the 17 members of Cadbury’s chief executive’s committee have chosen to stay with new owners Kraft.

He adds: “I’ve had four amazing years at Cadbury. I’ve been lucky to work with a talented internal team who I know will continue to build on the success of past campaigns; as well as many creative agencies, who have helped to develop campaigns, of which I am really proud.”

Cadbury says a new marketing head for the combined company’s chocolate business in the UK & Ireland will be announced in the coming weeks. Kraft’s chief marketing officer Mary-Beth West currently oversees Kraft’s marketing. In Europe, Daryl Fielding started working with the company as its vice-president of marketing in January.

The new organisation will build on the existing strong marketing programmes from both companies. Kraft has said it will keep Cadbury’s marketing and sales operations in the UK because “they understand the British market”.

Kraft Foods sealed its £11.7bn takeover of Cadbury after over 70% of shareholders in the UK’s largest confectioner voted in favour of the deal in February.

The takeover has been the subject of a UK parliamentary investigation where Kraft said it will keep Cadbury’s marketing and sales operations in the UK because “they understand the British market”.

Kraft is to remain under close Government scrutiny following its takeover of Cadbury and the responses it gave to a Commons business select committee last month.

Cadbury is currently considering stretching its brand into the café marketplace by opening a national chain of Cadbury-branded cafés.

The company reently unveiled its latest character-based TV ad called ’Chocolate Charmer’ showing its chocolate bars being “magically” crafted.