Mark Gonnella, formerly head of external communications with responsibility for PR and community affairs, has been promoted to the newly created role of director of external affairs after four years with the company.
Public affairs, which continues to be managed on a day-to-day basis by head
of public affairs Alan Ainsworth, has also been brought under Gonnella’s control as part of his new external affairs team of ten.
Gonnella said the PR manager post would report to Ian Barber, who has been promoted to head of PR.
The newcomer will oversee relations with consumer agency Lexis PR.
Barclaycard gained its first foothold in North America in August with the acquisition of credit-card issuer Juniper Financial. Last year it launched a joint venture with Standard Bank in South Africa.
Gonnella reports to Barclaycard UK managing director Peter Crook and Barclays group comms director Leigh Bruce. He formerly reported to Barclaycard marketing director Alison Hutchinson and Barclays group PR director Chris Tucker.
