Sony Ericsson unveils UK management restructure

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications has unveiled a management structure for its UK operation, including a marketing chief from the electrical goods giant.

Sony Mobile’s UK business unit manager Peter Marsden will be responsible for marketing at the UK arm of the venture company, which started operating from Monday and was formed by the merger of Ericsson’s consumer products division and Sony’s mobile phone business.

Marsden will report to Philip Rambech, previously president of the Asia Pacific region for Ericsson’s consumer products division.

Alex Rodrigues, managing director and former marketing chief for Ericsson’s consumer products division, has been made head of global marketing communications for the joint venture company. He will report to the joint venture’s global marketing chief Philip Van Houtte (MW September 20) and be responsible for liaising with Sony Ericsson’s creative agency, which has been confirmed as Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Steve Walker, who replaced Rodrigues as marketing chief at the UK arm of Ericsson in March (MW March 29), will join the global product marketing team based in London. He will report to Stefan Streite who is responsible for global product marketing and answers to Van Houtte.

It has also been confirmed that the brand name for the new company will be Sony Ericsson. The brand will begin to appear on handsets next year along with a new logo for the venture.

In a similar move to Sony and Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens are also reported to be in discussions about merging their handset operations.