Amex recruits ex-Mastercard chief Strachan

Mastercard International’s former senior vice-president, George Strachan, is joining its rival American Express following a shake-up of international advertising.

Strachan will become head of marketing for the Establishment Services (ES) group across all international markets outside the US. ES is the division which runs relations with Amex merchants worldwide.

Strachan was replaced at Mastercard by the man in charge of the Amex partnership programme, Jean Rozwadowski (MW October 18). Rozwadowski was previously president of Amex ES for Europe.

Strachan left Mastercard in October during the pitch for the European advertising account (MW October 4 ). He was in charge of advertising, sponsorship and promotion for the Mastercard brand across Europe. He joined Mastercard International five years ago to build the Mastercard brand across Europe, but was hindered by the entrance of conflicting brands – Access in the UK and Eurocard across Europe.