The knives are out at Telegraph Media Group—marketing director Barry Flanigan and digital GM Mike Moore have both abruptly left the company as part of a restructure of its digital and marketing departments. As Brandrepublic.com reports, neither will be replaced and the roles as they stand are being scrapped. Both men are former AOL (NYSE: TWX) executives – Flanagan joined in January from his role as director of marketing and communications at AOL UK while Moore joined in August 2007 after nine years in various roles across AOL Europe. A TMG spokesman, via Brandrepublic, said: “The restructure will allow for a decentralized digital strategy going forward and the changes implemented will streamline operations to align digital and marketing activity more closely with the commercially focused areas of the business. In light of the current challenging economic environment, and the likelihood that conditions will toughen in 2009, the restructure will strengthen our ability to meet the challenges ahead.”

It certainly is a swift exit for the pair—I interviewed Moore in my previous job about TMG’s digital strategy (no link) last month and he gave no hint of any restructure or changes to his role but spoke enthusiastically about the future and how the company would like to monetize its considerable foreign web traffic. And though two respected online minds are shuffled out of the company, Google’s marketing VP for EMEA Lorraine Twohill was ushered in as non-executive director yesterday.

—Kim Butler has also left her role as TMG’s head of client services for the luxury and travel sectors—there has been no word on whether she will be replaced. So the question remains of how far-reaching the restructure will be and how many more digital and marketing staff could be shown the door.

• Industry Moves: Google Marketing VP Lorraine Twohill Joins Telegraph Media Group Board
• Industry Moves: .Fox; BBC; Global Cricket; GMG; Telegraph