O2 marketing director role split

Mobile operator O2 will split the role of marketing director between head of consumer marketing Peter Rampling and head of pre-pay marketing Alistair Johnston. The temporary changes will occur while its current marketing director Sally Cowdry goes on maternity leave.

The changes will be effective as of this week. Cowdry is expected to return to the company in the middle of next year.

Rampling’s role will now encompass consumer postpay, SME, broadband, new product development and own-branded devices.

Johnston will be responsible for prepay, brand, CRM, products and strategy.

O2 says it is splitting the chief marketing role to ensure that a strong focus across the business is maintained. Rampling and Johnston will both sit on the O2 UK board and will report to the mobile operator’s chief executive, Ronan Dunne.

The company’s marketing team has undergone a number of changes in the past year. Former marketing director Russ Shaw, who was appointed as capability and innovation director in 2006, was promoted to global innovations director at Telefonica last year (MW June 14, 2007).