Chief marketer to leave Pizza Hut

Hugh Wood, chief marketing officer at Pizza Hut UK, is leaving the company. It is not clear if he has a job to go to.

Wood, who joined in 2006, has just started a rebranding project for the pizza chain and will leave after its completion.

Alasdair Murdoch, ceo of Pizza Hut UK, says: “Hugh has made a significant contribution to the business over the past two years. He has been responsible for building a strong marketing team, improving our focus on the consumer and delivering major improvements within our advertising.

“Having finalised the plans for Pizza Hut’s rebrand, Hugh is now ready for his next challenge. Both I and the marketing team wish him the best of luck for the future.”

The chain reappointed Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO to its advertising business in May. The agency has previously handled the account but lost it to Wieden & Kennedy in 2005.

W&K, which resigned the business in March, is understood to have become disillusioned with the creative potential of the business after a 50% stake in the business was sold by Whitbread to US parent Yum! Foods.