Laser departure sparks changes

Laser Satellite & Cable executive sales director Andy Hawkins is leaving the company and will not be replaced.

Hawkins is understood to have been offered a severance package to cover the next year.

Stewart Butterfield, managing director of Granada UK Broadcasting, is expected to instigate further changes at Laser. However, he was unavailable for comment.

Hawkins’ deputy, agency sales director Craig Nayman, becomes sales director.

Meanwhile, sales controller George Cronk takes on the post of deputy sales director.

Hawkins says: “The experience of setting up the operation, launching the Granada Sky Broadcasting channels, establishing the trading environment and subsequently expanding our third-party business has been invaluable.

“It has been a difficult decision to go but ultimately I have achieved as much as I’m able to do and the job has run its course.”

Laser chief executive Mick Desmond comments: “We are all sorry to see Andy move on and I congratulate him for the enormous success he has achieved and the team he has built.”

Hawkins was on the Laser board and helped set up a 24-strong sales team.