ITV Reshuffles Commercial Team As Sampson Departs
ITV’s Justin Sampson, director of customer relationship marketing, is to leave the company as Patrick Ugeux becomes director of marketing strategy and the broadcaster creates the new role of advertising development director.
Sampson took up the role with ITV in 2004, ending more than a decade at the Radio Advertising Bureau (see ITV Poaches RAB’s Sampson To Boost Advertiser Relations). During his stint with the TV giant he became a high profile figure in the industry, becoming the first chairman of TV marketing body Thinkbox last October (see Thinkbox Appoints Justin Sampson Chairman).
Commenting on his departure from ITV, the outgoing director said: “It is sad to be moving on, the two years that I’ve spent at ITV have been an important part of my life and the work that I’ve instigated will feature among my most rewarding personal achievements. I’ve had particular fun working close to the origination of the product that I’ve had responsibility for marketing.”
Sampson also moved to quell rumours over his role with Thinkbox, stating: “While there has been speculation about me joining Thinkbox on a full-time basis, I’ve decided that I’m not ready to return to a collective marketing body role and look forward to finding my next project.”
The new role of advertising development director, Sampson explained, would extend ITV’s existing ‘Beyond the Spot’ work, with a remit to strengthen advertiser relationships.
The new position will work closely with ITV’s viewer insight and brand and segmentation work, established at the end of last year to deepen the broadcaster’s understanding of both viewers and advertisers.
Elsewhere, Patrick Ugeux’s new position as director of marketing strategy will see him report to marketing and commercial strategy director, Clare Salmon, with responsibility for developing the company’s marketing, viewer insight and the resource allocation processes.
Commenting on the appointment, Ugeux said: “I am thrilled to be joining senior management in crafting ITV’s answer to the challenges of the multi-channel world. In particular, I am looking forward to working with Clare in defining an innovative, customer-driven approach to Marketing Strategy.”
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com