Virgin Drinks marketing head quits

Virgin Drinks UK managing director Swag Mukerji – who had overall responsibility for marketing – has quit the company without a job to go to as a result of a restructuring of the business.

Laurent Deruelle, managing director of Virgin Drinks France, takes over some of his responsibilities as UK country director, while his marketing role has been handed to international franchise director Chris Deathe.

Head of UK marketing Alyson Lilley and new product development director Tim Wright will now report to Deathe.

A Virgin Drinks spokeswoman says: “We have decided to centralise the international operations at our UK base. Mukerji, who has been with the company for more than two years, and has overseen the growth of the business, has decided to leave as a result.”

Virgin Drinks offers a wide range of beverages in 14 countries internationally. The company claims its cola brand experienced 25 per cent year-on-year growth in 1999 and achieved global sales of £300m. Coca-Cola by comparison has global sales of $19bn (£13bn).