AA searches for marketing head

The Centrica owned Automobile Association (AA) is seeking a head of marketing for its roadside services, following the departure of Patricia Vickers.

The head of marketing will report to marketing director for home and roadside services Clare Salmon.

Formerly the head of marketing services products for British Gas Services, Vickers was brought into the AA after Salmon restructured the marketing teams of AA Insurance Services and British Gas Home Services earlier this year (MW January 4).

Following the restructure, the former head of strategy and business development for British Gas Services, Mark Whitbread, became head of marketing, sales and installation for non-service based products, such as installation of central heating.

It is not known whether Vickers has a job to go to.

Centrica has also announced the end of its six-year sponsorship deal with Vodafone. AA Vodafone Roadwatch provides UK traffic information to commercial radio stations, including Classic FM, Jazz FM, Talk Radio and Kiss FM. The sponsorship deal will end at the end of this year.

A &£3m marketing spend is being put behind the AA’s Traffic and Travel service with the aim of relaunching the AA Roadwatch service.

Centrica is to introduce a “contra airtime” model, in which the AA’s Traffic and Travel information service will be provided to radio stations in exchange for advertising slots. These ad slots will either be sold to generate revenue, or taken by the other umbrella brands in the Centrica group, which include British Gas and Goldfish.

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