Costcutter marketing director Ian Bishop is jumping ship to join Nisa, The Grocer can reveal.

Bishop’s decision comes just weeks after Costcutter formed a joint venture with Palmer & Harvey and gave notice of its intent to terminate its more than 25-year relationship with the Scunthorpe-based buying group.

Bishop handed in his notice last week and as a result did not feature at this week’s Pro-Retail trade show in Telford, the first major public-facing event featuring both P&H and Costcutter.

He is expected to join Nisa in October following the completion of his notice period. Jenny Holmes, currently senior marketing manager at Costcutter, is also understood to be making the switch to Nisa.

Nisa does not currently have a marketing director, with much of the marketing function being handled by group symbol director John Heagney.

However, Nisa has been looking to create the role for almost a year as it aims to become more retail focused following the split with Today’s Group.

Just this week, former senior M&S and Waitrose executive Amanda Jones took up the new role of chief operating officer.

Bishop returned to Costcutter in February 2011, having worked as marketing manager for the group between 2000 and 2001.

Costcutter CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer said the search for Bishop’s replacement had already begun. “We can confirm that Ian Bishop has left his position as marketing director of Costcutter supermarkets Group,” he said. “Having the strongest possible marketing team is vital and we have therefore begun the process of finding an industry-leading marketing director with the expertise to help Costcutter and our retailers deliver a competitive convenience sector offer.”

In March, Costcutter and P&H created a new Buyco to buy goods on behalf of Costcutter and P&H symbol retailers. Costcutter will manage the shops P&H will handle the distribution.

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