Mirror abandons hunt to replace marketing chief

Marketing 18-Mar-04

Trinity Mirror has called off its search for a marketing director of national newspapers and has decided not to replace Alisdair Luxmoore, who was ousted in April 2003.

General manager Ellis Watson, a former marketing director of The Sun and The News of the World, claimed he had the requisite skills himself and that he was entirely happy with the existing marketing set-up.

Marketing for the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People will continue to be managed by Will Hattam, head of marketing for national newspapers, who will be overseen by Watson.

Following Luxmoore's departure, editorial development director Phil Hall temporarily assumed marketing director responsibilities.

When Watson arrived from Celador in May he embarked on a wide-ranging review of national newspaper operations, including marketing.

This concluded with the decision to bring marketing of national and regional papers closer together through a range of cross-promotions and joint initiatives.

Recent marketing activity has included free DVDs.