Marketing chief Hytner to quit Barclays for Top Up TV

Barclays group marketing director Jim Hytner has quit the high street bank after nearly three years in the role to join Top Up TV as commercial director.

Hytner, who controls a £350m marketing budget at Barclays, is expected to remain at the group until November when Deanna Oppenheimer, UK banking chief operating officer, will take over the marketing function.

It is understood that Hytner’s new role will be board level and that he will be responsible for expanding the commercial opportunities for Top Up, which has received a boost with services such as Setanta Sports joining the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) line-up.

It is understood that he will work closely with David Chance, one of the Top Up TV founders, who he previously worked with at BSkyB. Chance co-founded the service, which operates pay-TV channels on the DTT platform shared by Freeview, in 2003.

Hytner joined Barclays in late 2004 from ITV, where he was marketing director, to replace Simon Gulliford. Hytner has been credited with the rebranding of ITV in the wake of the merger of franchises Carlton and Granada.

He added group brand responsibilities after just over a year at Barclays (MW February 16, 2006) and during his tenure he reviewed the media planning and buying out of Starcom into Walker Media, although he kept Bartle Bogle Hegarty on board for advertising duties.

It has been thought for some time that Hytner, also a former Five marketing director, was keen to return to the media sector. Last month, he ruled out a return to ITV as commercial director.

Hytner was unable for comment as Marketing Week when to press.