Granada Marketing And Research Head To Step Down

Granada Enterprises has confirmed that marketing and research director, Sue Read, is leaving the company following the creation of a single ITV earlier this month.

It is understood that Andy Bagnall, director of knowledge management will absorb her research role and Justin Sampson will take assume responsibility for marketing, when he joins ITV later this year as director of customer relationship management.

Sampson, who has spent the last twelve years at the RAB, will also assume responsibility for helping ITV assume a brand leader role in working with other television companies to promote the medium to agencies and advertisers.

Commenting on Read’s departure, Mick Desmond, chief executive of ITV Broadcasting, said: “Sue has had a long and distinguished career at Granada. She’s very well respected within the industry and I’d like to thank her for her support and contribution over the years.”

Read, who has been at Granada for around twenty years, has not sought a position within the new ITV structure. She said: “I am very confident in the talents of the marketing and research teams that have reported to me. It is an exciting time for the newly merged ITV and I wish it every success.”

ITV is currently seeking to improve its relationship with advertisers and agencies following the recently completed merger of Carlton and Granada. Sampson will work to ensure that the customer is put at the heart of all aspects of the ITV Sales operation, from the client facing sales team and business-to-business arm to the trade marketing division (see ITV Poaches RAB’s Sampson To Boost Advertiser Relations).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com

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