Royal Mail marketing head to leave after restructure

Royal Mail marketing director Alex Batchelor is leaving at the end of next month following a restructure of the marketing team. It is not thought that he has a job to go to.

His departure comes about a month before group strategy director Alex Smith takes over as strategy and commercial director. Batchelor, who had been in the role for three years, would have reported into Smith in his new role.

It is thought that Smith will take over responsibilty for marketing, including overseeing its agencies, Abbot Mead Vickers.BBDO and OMD. Royal Mail completed a review of its advertising last month, retaining AMV.

Royal Mail chief executive, Adam Crozier, says: "Alex has made a major contribution to Royal Mail during an immensely challenging time for the business."

Batchelor was poached by Royal Mail from Orange, where he was vice president of global brand at Orange (MW April 21, 2005). He joined the mobile operator in 2001 from brand consultancy Interbrand. He has also worked at Unilever and Saatchi & Saatchi.