Aegon UK marketing boss Clode is dismissed by chief executive
Steve Clode, head of marketing at pensions and investment company Aegon has left the company.
Clode left the company this week alongside Felim Mackie, director of life and pensions having been informed by chief executive Otto Thoresen that their roles were no longer available at Aegon, with a new role being created for Adrian Grace who will now act as chief operating officer.
Thoresen is quoted as explaining the 'restructure' leading to Clode's departure as being down to 'timing' and that Clode had been brought in to look at sponsorship opportunities, and having steered the tennis deal for the last year it was now time for him to leave.
Former Nationwide marketing chief Clode joined Aegon UK in 2007 with a remit of building its brand reputation and awareness within the UK.
He looked to do this through a use of sports sponsorship, and signed a £25m deal last year for Aegon to become the main financial brand sponsors of UK Tennis - a strategy he spoke to The Drum about only two weeks ago when it was clear that he had no idea his role was under threat.
In his role, Clode oversaw the mainstream marketing for the company including online, above-the-line, sponsorship and brand development which saw him work with agencies such as Line, The Leith Agency, Story, Multiply and most recently Billington Cartmell.
A spokesperson for Aegon UK explained that Iain Murray, head of sponsorship would have a 'more leading role' in terms of the marketing strategy for the tennis sponsorship, reporting to Jayne Ponzio, head of communications/sponsorship and marketing services going forward.
Ponzio will report into the head of the corporate marketing team, Maurice Brunet, director of strategy, which oversees the company's products such as life insurance and pensions, will be unaffected.
The Drum also understands that no agency review will be held as a result of Clode's departure.