Gillespie lands key Standard Life UK marketing position
Standard Life has appointed former Barclays marketer Andrew Gillespie to head its restructured UK marketing team.
He will join as managing director for marketing across the UK financial services business. The appointment comes as Standard Life appoints VCCP as its advertising agency.
Gillespie will report to chief marketing officer Simon Gulliford, who joined the company earlier this year (MW February 13). Gillespie previously worked for Gulliford at Barclays, where the former was group marketing director.
Gulliford is understood to have this week briefed staff on the assurance company’s most comprehensive marketing restructure, following a review he put in place after arriving.
For the first time, marketing and product development have been split and in the UK a number of new roles spanning different customer categories will be created. Standard Life will also create a number of global “centres of excellence” across areas including brand, customer insight and digital.
The role of managing director for product management and development is expected to be filled internally by Jim Black.
The restructure will lead to the creation and abolition of a number of roles. It is understood that new positions will be filled by existing staff. The new structure will be in place by next March.
VCCP is expected to work on the launch of a new Sipp product. It takes over from Saatchi & Saatchi, who parted company with the Scottish life insurance company earlier this year (MW.co.uk July 29).
Gillespie is currently a marketing consultant. Earlier this year he was appointed to lead a project for the Post Office (MW May 15).
