Bhs loses marketing director Churchill after a year

LONDON - Beverley Churchill, marketing director at Bhs, has left the high-street retailer after just over a year in the role.

Churchill, a former marketing boss at rival retailer Selfridges, was tasked with overseeing the 拢6m annual advertising budget for Bhs, part of the Arcadia retail group, owned by billionaire entrepreneur Philip Green.

The retailer mainly relies on print and outdoor advertising for most of its promotions, although it is understood to be addressing this to take on the marketing power of rival M&S with higher-profile activity.

This is the second high-profile job departure this month at Arcadia following the announcement earlier this month that Jane Sheperdson, brand director at the Arcadia-owned high street clothing store Topshop, had left the retailer.

Shepherdson had been with Topshop for 18 years, and was known for transforming the business into a favourite destination for young shoppers and celebrities.

In December, Shepherdson came in at number seven, above Tony Blair, as one of London's top movers and shakers in a list compiled by Time Out.

Last month, it was reported that supermodel Kate Moss was creating a new fashion range for Topshop. The collection will launch in spring 2007 across the retailer's 308 stores and on its website. Green denied that it was this move that lead to Sheperdson's departure.

This month, Bhs signed Gordon Ramsay to design a range of knives and other food-related homewares for Bhs. He is also in talks about a revamp of the in-store cafes at Bhs.

The creative brief for Bhs is held by WPP network United, while Havas agency Media Planning Group currently handles the media planning and buying account for the chain. 

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