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Vodafone marketing director Herbison quits for new telco role

Vodafone’s marketing director has quit midway through the mobile phone company’s high profile media pitch.

Craig Herbison confirmed to Mumbrella that he is now on gardening leave, with an announcement due next week on his new role, which will also be with a telco. He said: “It’s the top marketing role.”  

However, the current pitch for Vodafone’s Australian business – worth around $30m – is still going ahead. It means the winning agency – one of incumbent Ikon, Universal McCann or PHD – will find itself working for a different client to the one it presented to just before Christmas. This will inevitably raise questions about the length of time before the agency would have to defend its account if an insider takes the top role. However sources close to the pitch process – which is expected to conclude in the next week or two – have emphasised that it included major global input.

Herbison spent a year in the role, and prior to that a year with Vodafone in New Zealand. During both stints Vodafone won internal awards for the marketing team’s progress.

In September Clemenger BBDO Sydney won Vodafone’s advertising business.

Herbison told Mumbrella: “I’ve had an excellent time with Vodafone and I’ll be able to say more next week once it’s been announced internally.”

Well informed telco sources point towards Telecom New Zealand as one possibility. The company is rolling out a faster network later this year, and headhunters have been approaching senior executives within Australia’s main telcos.

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