Punch loses second sales sales director>

Ailing humour magazine Punch has lost its second advertising sales director, only six weeks after he joined.

John Trickett, who was previously head of classified advertising at the Evening Standard, left last week by mutual agreement with Punch publisher Liberty.

Trickett was employed as a consultant on a 15-week renewable contract when he was hired in January to replace Ian Scott, the title’s launch ad director. Scott left to join magazine sales house The Publishing Consultancy in December.

Trickett will not be replaced. Instead a new advertising sales structure has been created under ad manager Neil Anderson.

Punch’s advertising sales have suffered from weak sales despite an ad campaign at launch, and a subscription drive aimed at Harrods shoppers and credit card holders.

The title was reported to have been selling about 30,000 copies a week before Christmas (MW January 10) but claims sales have improved.