Perth-based Bankwest's marketing team has undergone a round of major redundancies as the business restructures its customer experience operations.
Bankwest confirmed a "structural review" of its customer experience team. Consultations with impacted staff are ongoing.
AdNews understands only a small handful of marketing staff are affected by the changes, as Bankwest looks to meet the expectations of "rapidly changing customer needs".
“These decisions are never easy, but we have to make clear choices and trade-offs, so we can prioritise investment in critical areas that enable us to meet rapidly changing customer needs," Bankwest chief marketing officer Haylee Felton says.
“We will always be as open and transparent as possible with colleagues and we will continue to listen to their feedback and provide them with support as decisions are made."
Bankwest told AdNews the restructure wouldn't have any impact on its current agency relationship with WPP, which in 2017 created Union, a bespoke national group model developed to service Bankwest.
Last year, Union revealed its first work for the bank, with senior creatives from Ogilvy, Y&R (now VMLY&R) and Ikon teaming up for the project. It launched it's latest campaign in March this year.
Union pulls resources from Ikon, Ogilvy Sydney, The Brand Agency, VMLY&R, PPR, PRISM, Play Events, Kantar and Hogarth.
“These changes will not impact our relationship with WPP, with which we look forward to continuing the strong partnership we have developed," Felton says.
The Commonwealth Bank-owned business is the second institution to undergo a marketing changes in recent weeks.
Last week it was revealed that The Commonwealth Bank itself had appointed a new head of marketing, Priscilla Sims Brown.
CEO Matt Comyn decided to split the role of group general counsel and group executive group corporate affairs on the retirement of Anna Lenahan. Sims Brown starts as group executive marketing and corporate affairs from August.
The appointment of the former American journalist and stockbroker is the latest response at rebuilding trust following revelations of misconduct at the financial services royal commission.
Bankwest's latest campaign from WPP's Union:
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