Rank ditches group marketing role after director’s departure

Pat Mitchinson, group marketing director for Rank Group’s gaming division, has left the company after less than a year in the job. Her departure follows a restructure of the marketing department. It is not known if she has a job to go to.

A Rank spokesman says the group marketing role has now been split, with marketing directors appointed for the two main gaming brands, Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos. Both have been filled internally: Miles Baron becomes sales and marketing director for Mecca, while Jackie Abraham is marketing director for Grosvenor.

Before joining Rank, Mitchinson had been European marketing director for Timberland for two years (MW June 2, 2005). Prior to Timberland, she was director of marketing for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, and before that worked for Mothercare.

Mitchinson joined Rank in November (MW November 24, 2005) and was responsible for marketing the Mecca brand, and the Grosvenor and Hard Rock Casino chains. In July, she appointed consultancy Dave to come up with a new positioning for Mecca – the second-largest UK bingo operator behind Gala – to broaden its appeal.

In April, integrated agency DNX was appointed to handle Rank Group’s 2m below-the-line business. WCRS is the agency of record for the above-the-line work, worth around 2m (AC Nielsen). Planning and buying is through Mediaedge:CIA.

Rank operates Mecca Bingo, Grosvenor Casinos and the online sport betting site Blue Square in the UK, as well as 11 bingo clubs in Spain and two casinos in Belgium.