08 June 2006 | Rebecca Ellinor

Tina Fegent has been laid off from her post as head of procurement at advertising agency Lowe.

She left the company last month after being told the role of procurement was redundant. She was the only procurement professional at the firm and one of only a few procurement experts to be based at a UK advertising agency.

Fegent, who had been with the firm for a year, said she saved £750,000 on the business's cost base of £7 million.

Fegent, who previously worked for advertising agency Grey London and prior to that worked on the client side with firms including Orange, O2 and GSK, said she is planning to work on a freelance basis.

A Lowe spokeswoman told SM: "Tina Fegent has done a fantastic job as head of procurement."

She said the need for the position was under review and Fegent had been made redundant following the consultation.

SMjun2006