Midland hit by second top exit
Midland Bank has lost its second senior marketing executive in less than two weeks, with the resignation of head of consumer marketing Mark Searles.
Searles, as head of cards marketing, was involved in secret talks between Asda and Midland Bank which fell through early this year.
Asda had been looking at a joint-branded loyalty card and banking services operation, but it is understood that Midland did not feel its name would be sufficiently prominent.
Searles is leaving to become marketing director at Sage, the world’s largest PC-based accountancy software developer.
Last month, Midland Bank’s marketing chief Peter Godfrey quit to join American Express as regional president for Europe (MW May 1).
Godfrey’s role as general manager marketing, card and electronic banking has been split in two and it is believed there was no longer a job for Searles.
In January last year Midland’s marketing director Geoffrey Ellerton quit, followed shortly by head of group card development Ken Howes, who left to go to the US.
