29/10/10 – Twentieth Century Fox has promoted former marketing director Cameron Saunders to the position of UK managing director.
He will take overall responsibility for all aspects of the cinema distributor’s operations and replaces Ian George. The latter is now vice president of international marketing at Paramount.
Saunders is a former head of marketing for digital channels at Channel 4 and a former planning director at advertising agency WCRS. He joined Fox in February 2009. Recent campaigns he has developed include marketing activity for The A Team and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
The company will appoint a new marketing director in due course, according to a spokesperson.
28/10/10 – Rob Wells has been promoted to the newly created position of president of global digital business at Universal Music Group.
Wells, who will be based in UMG’s Santa Monica headquarters, will have global responsibility for strategic growth initiatives for all the music firm’s digital assets, including the wireless, online and transactional sectors. He will also be charged with identifying new partnerships and next-generation distribution channels.
He will report to UMG president/chief operating officer Zach Horowitz and UMG International chief operating officer Max Hole.
Wells joined UMG in 2000 as division director of digital services at Universal Music UK. He was promoted to senior vp of digital for UMG International in 2006.
UMG co-chief executive officer Lucian Grainge said in a statement, “Innovation, leadership and imagination are essential to expanding our digital business even further, and there is no one better equipped to do this than Rob.”
28/10/10 – UniCredit SpA has appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer Roberto Nicastro to a new position of general manager in an attempt to smooth relations with investors, while Sergio Ermotti, head of the investment bank, decided to step down after the management shakeup.
Nicastro will oversee the commercial banking business, private banking and the global transactions unit, the Milan- based lender said in a statement today. Paolo Fiorentino, a deputy CEO, was named chief operating officer, while Ermotti will leave once a replacement is found.
Ermotti was in the running for the role of general manager, the No. 2 executive position at Italy’s biggest bank.
27/10/10 – The asset management arm of Union Bancaire Privee has appointed Nicolas Faller as new head of sales for Europe, effective Nov. 1 and Kazuhito Yoshihara as CEO of its Tokyo office. The company also announced that Frederic Peemans has joined as the head of a new team to focus on the Benelux region.
26/10/10 – Citroen has looked internally and promoted its head of digital marketing Jules Tilstone as it new UK marketing director.
Tilstone replaces Ian Hughes who has left the business and joined a leasing company. Tilstone has been with Citroen since 2000 and has held a number of roles, latterly as head of digital marketing in a role he
took up in 2007.
He has previously held roles in fleet and leasing. Tilstone takes up his new role on 1 November and will report to Linda Jackson, managing director of Citroen UK. He will oversee a staff count of around 25.
25/10/10 – Avia Health Informatics has now restructured its management team and it has completed its move to a new head office in Buckinghamshire.
The company has promoted Professor Jeremy Dale to a new position as clinical director.
The former non-executive director has retained his position as clinical director of Avia’s wholly-owned subsidiary Plain Healthcare. Avia has also hired Paul Preece as its new financial controller.
25/10/10 – Brewing giant SABMiller plc on Friday promoted the director of Colombian brewer Bavaria SA to head its Latin American unit, its most profitable business, to replace Barry Smith who is set
to retire at the end of 2010.
Colombia’s Bavaria is currently SABMiller’s biggest business in Latin America. In his new role, Karl Lippert will report directly to group Chief Executive Graham Mackay, and join the group’s executive committee
from January 1, 2011.
Lippert has been with the world’s second largest brewer since 1992 and has worked for the group in South Africa, Poland and Hungary before moving to Colombia following SABMiller’s purchase of Bavaria in 2005.
22/10/10 – GE Capital has announced that Arthur Mathysen Gerst has been appointed Managing Director for Pan-European Fleet Services to oversee the growth of the business throughout the region. He will be responsible for identifying new pan-European customers, developing new products and services and working with the key markets to gain market share and service customers. Mathysen Gerst will report into Isabel Fernandez, Chief Commercial Officer for GE Capital in EMEA.
Prior to his appointment, Mathysen Gerst was with LeasePlan for 10 years. Most recently he was Managing Director of LeasePlan Belgium and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Excelease. Before that he was Managing Director of LeasePlan Brazil and, from 2000-2004, was Managing Director of LeasePlan Poland. Earlier in his career, Mathysen Gerst spent 10 years with increasing management and sales responsibility with Akzo Nobel, in The Netherlands, Singapore and Poland.
“We are delighted to bring such an experienced fleet leader into GE
Capital,” said Isabel Fernandez, Chief Commercial Officer for GE Capital
in EMEA. “Arthur’s proven track record and knowledge of the
international fleet industry will help us to continue developing our
business throughout the region. We’re investing significantly in our
technology and pan-European services and Arthur’s expertise will be
invaluable as we look to introduce new online tools and products.”
21/10/10 – Paul Bowtell, CFO at travel operator Tui
Travel, has handed in his resignation after the company was forced
to restate its 2009 financial results due to an IT error.
The glitches were found following a systems merger in 2007, and Bowtell
will leave the company at the end of the year.
According to the Financial Times, the accounting error resulted from Tui
using two separate IT systems after the merger of First Choice and
Thomson, to form Tui Travel, in 2007.
However, Peter Long, chief executive of Tui Travel, said today: “It is
now clear that at the time of merger there were weaknesses in the legacy
systems we chose to use in the Tui UK business. Despite the fact that
this situation had built up over a number of years, Paul is behaving
honourably and I am disappointed that he will be leaving the group.
“I have specifically asked Paul to remain with the business to see
through the full year audit and production of our preliminary results.”
21/10/10 – Dean Wilson, the managing director of corporate trade
company Active International Ltd. in the UK, has been promoted to
the newly created position of Vice President, International Division
within the parent company.
In his new role, Wilson’s responsibilities will be expanded to include
the company’s Australia office in addition to its UK operations.
Wilson’s promotion takes place with immediate effect and reflects the
company’s commitment to the Australian market and recognition of
Wilson’s leadership abilities.
As Vice President, International Division, Wilson will continue to
report to Fredrick Fuest, President, International Division. Stephen
Farr, managing director of Active Australia will maintain responsibility
for day to day operations in Australia and will report directly to Wilson.
Fuest stated: “As managing director Dean has reshaped and strengthened
the UK team and business to successfully meet the challenges and
opportunities of a rapidly changing and competitive marketplace. This
has led to outstanding results for the UK office. This experience will
help Dean to grow our already thriving Australian business.”
Wilson added: “I am extremely excited to have the opportunity of working
with the Australian team in what is a very dynamic trading market.
Active already has a strong foundation as a leader in Corporate Trade in
Australia. Our goal is to further strengthen this position making Active
the number one choice for clients, agencies and media vendors.”
20/10/10 – Tom Cross. the chief executive of Dana
Petroleum, has said he will resign after the hostile takeover by the
South Korean firm KNOC. Tom Cross opposed the takeover bid by South
Korea’s state oil company saying the offer was too low.
KNOC took control of the Aberdeen oil explorer last month and several
leading board figures have already said they will step down. Dana is to
delist from the London stock exchange later this month.
19/10/10 – Mars’ UK confectionery business is to become
independent from its European business in a bid to boost its performance
against rivals in the UK. The chocolate business will now operate as a
standalone business headed up by Fiona Dawson as president.
The aim of the restructure is to give Mars UK more power in the local
region and perform better against confectionary rivals, Cadbury, Kraft
and Nestlé.
Andy Watson-Webb, president for the chocolate business in western
Europe, has stepped down after five years after turning down the job of
President of the continental Europe region. Peter West, currently
general manager of Mars’ Australian snack food business will take the
continental Europe role.
18/10/10 – Brightstar Europe has promoted its UK managing
director to European marketing director, with Richard Turner
taking charge of the UK businesses.
Brightstar Europe UK managing director Tanny Price has taken the
job of European marketing director in a move, in the pipe for some
months, that sees its top management team bolstered and realigned.
European sales director Richard Turner takes charge as UK and
Ireland managing director for the European joint venture between
Brightstar and IT distributor Tech Data. He is replaced by Valerie
Turner, longtime account manager at Alcatel.
Also, Ulrik Bach-Anderson, formerly Brightpoint vice president
and key account manager and Dangaard Telecom director of product
management, joins as European business development director.
15/10/10 – Discovery Networks Central Europe has announced a
number of promotions that came into effect at the beginning of this month.
In its distribution sales department, Karol Bek has become the
affiliate sales director Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, while
Laszlo Vantsa is now the affiliate sales director Hungary and
Romania.
Meanwhile in its ad sales department, which is headed by Dorota
Zurkowska, VP ad sales CE, Marcin Lukasiewicz has been promoted
to ad sales director Poland and Anna Tomaszewska is the senior
accounts manager.
15/10/10 – Goodman Group has announced some management changes to
its UK Logistics Business unit. Effective 1 January 2011, Jason
Dalby will step down as Managing Director of Goodman UK Logistics
but will continue to work with the Group on an advisory basis, sitting
on several joint venture boards and maintaining involvement in the
planning process for some of Goodman’s strategic assets. Graham
Pardoe, currently Senior Development Director, will step up to the
role of Managing Director.
Jason joined Goodman in April 2007 with Goodman Group’s acquisition of
Rosemound, a logistics development business which he co founded. With
Jason remaining involved in the business in a strategic capacity and
Graham being promoted to Managing Director, responsible for managing the
operations of the business, these changes ensure Goodman is able to
maintain the momentum that has been building and continue to capitalise
on new opportunities that are presented to the business.
Graham has 17 years’ experience in the property industry primarily
covering the areas of development and fund management. He joined Goodman
in April 2007, and has since been responsible for managing Goodman’s
development activities in the Midlands and Northern regions. Over this
time, Graham has successfully secured planning on approximately 450
acres of land which is now being actively marketed. He was also
instrumental in the launch of the joint venture with CB Richard Ellis
Realty Trust in June 2010.
Graham Pardoe will take over as Managing Director on 1 January 2011
reporting directly to Greg Goodman. Other key internal management
appointments are expected to be made over the next month in support of
the UK Logistics business strategy.
14/10/10 – Market research firm Kadence International’s Managing
Director Kieron Mathews is relocating to the firm’s North
American office, to develop the company’s presence across the US market.
Kadence, which was founded in 1992, has offices in Boston, London,
Delhi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Hong Kong.
Mathews, who joined the firm in 2004 as Head of Research, was promoted
to his current position in 2008. Since this time, he has been accredited
with repositioning Kadence’s insight business while helping grow the
client portfolio. Mathews previously worked at Research International
and has an MBA from Cranfield.
In his new role, he will work alongside Owen Jenkins as joint CEO of
Europe and North America, and be based in Kadence’s Boston office from
where he will continue to be involved in the delivery of global and
European insight projects managed from the UK operation.
‘The US market is huge, and the new business opportunities immense,’
states founder and Global Chairman Simon Everard. ‘Kieron’s move to work
alongside Owen Jenkins ensures that we have a strong and dynamic
platform to expand our US presence and meet our growth strategy.’
14/10/10 – IPC Media’s Web Technology Director Kelly Waters has
announced the promotion of Simon Loxham to the role of Product
Director, IPC Digital.
Simon was previously Head of Web Technology for IPC Southbank and IPC
Connect, home to IPC’s women’s brands. In his new role, Simon retains
his current responsibilities and in addition will take responsibility
for IPC Digital’s commercial solutions team and IPC Inspire’s sport and
leisure websites.
Kelly says: “This is a well-deserved promotion for Simon. He led the
transformation of www.goodtoknow.co.uk and its new recipes channel, as
well as leading numerous developments on our fashion and homes sites,
delivering significant online growth. This change will ensure that all
of our brand technology teams get the benefit of Simon’s experience, and
it will help us to apply common ideas and technology solutions across
brands.”
13/10/10 – Scottish Power began looking for a new chief executive
today following Nick Horler’s shock resignation after just two years.
The company, which is owned by Spain’s Iberdrola, said it accepted
Horler’s decision to step down but gave no details. Insiders said
Horler’s decision was taken for personal reasons and that he told
executives after a board meeting in Glasgow.
He will remain an adviser to Ignacio Galán, head of Iberdrola and
chairman of Scottish Power, Britain’s third biggest electricity
generator and the leading UK wind-power generator.
13/10/10 – Bupa has completed a reshuffle of its UK marketing
team, following the promotion of former British Airways (BA) commercial
director Martin George to the role of managing director for group
development.
The healthcare provider has handed George, who was previously group
marketing director, an enlarged role that encompasses both marketing and
corporate affairs.
He replaces Alison Platt, who was recently promoted to the position of
Bupa managing director for UK and North America. Former BA head of
marketing and distribution Tiffany Hall, is currently operating as
Bupa’s interim group marketing director. One-time PepsiCo marketer Fiona
McAnena will continue as global brand director.
12/10/10 – Fujitsu has promoted government sales chief Michael
Keegan to lead its UK Technology Solutions unit.
Keegan replaces Paul Parrish, who has left to join Phoenix IT Services
as managing director. Keegan, who has previously held senior positions
with MasterCard, NatWest and Magex, joined Fujitsu in 2006. He most
recently served the Japanese vendor as sales and business development
director of its UK government division.
In his new role, he will be responsible for heading the UK sales
operation for Fujitsu’s desktops, notebooks, servers and storage. The
vendor’s UK and Ireland chief executive, Roger Gilbert, claimed he wants
Keegan to forge greater ties between Fujitsu’s services and hardware
businesses.
“Michael will be leading the hardware side of our business in what is a
critical but very exciting time for the company,” said Gilbert. “His
experience across both private and public sector and particularly his
understanding of IT as a driver for the government efficiency agenda,
will be a great asset in ensuring a greater synergy between our
traditional services business and our hardware business.”
11/10/10 – Alphasonics has appointed Christopher Jones,
currently marketing executive with the company, as sales manager for the
UK and Ireland. He will handle all domestic customer service and sales
enquiries while continuing his marketing responsibilities.
‘I’m delighted to be given this promotion and I’m also thrilled to be
working with a global leader such as Alphasonics,’ said Jones. ‘Even
though most of our customers are overseas, the UK is vastly important to
us. I look forward to further cementing our strong brand and getting our
technology and the benefits it brings to the people who need it.’
David Jones, managing director of Alphasonics, said: ‘We see this as
very positive appointment as it shows our dedication to and commitment
to the UK market. Since he joined us, Chris has shown a great
willingness and aptitude with regards to our product, the business and
the industry. His qualifications, experience and enthusiasm make him the
perfect fit for this role. I am sure he’ll be a great success.’
Christopher Jones has a BA(Hons) in media and communications studies
from Aberystwyth University. He has also recently completed an MSc(econ)
in advanced marketing, also from Aberystywth University.
08/10/10 – Tom Vick, the joint managing director of JWT
London, is leaving the agency without a job to go to.
Vick, who also runs JWT’s UK Nestlé business, is expected to leave later
this month, bringing an end to a two-year tenure at the agency.
He joined JWT in July 2008 as the group business director on clients
including De Beers, Vodafone and Nestlé. He was promoted to joint
managing director along with Joe Petyan in January 2009, taking
responsibility for the leadership of the agency as it looked for a new
chief executive to replace Alison Burns. The agency has since appointed
Guy Hayward as the chief executive of its UK group.
Before joining JWT, Vick was a director at DFGW, which was bought by
Freud Communications in May 2008. He had worked at DFGW since 1999,
helping the agency to pick up accounts including Expedia and the British
Red Cross. Before that, he was the new-business director of Ogilvy & Mather.
Vick said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be the joint managing
director at such a great agency as JWT, but now feels like the right
time for me to take a break and decide what to do next.”
07/10/10 – Findus Group, the owner of Young’s Seafood and Crispy
Pancakes, is culling its chief marketing officer (CMO) role following
the promotion of the incumbent to UK managing director.
Current CMO, Leendert den Hollander, who previously spent 15 years at
Procter & Gamble, began his role at the frozen food specialist in
December 2009.
Den Hollander has now been promoted to managing director of the
UK business overseeing the Young’s and Findus frozen foods brands.
Den Hollander’s promotion has been prompted by the exit of managing
director Mark Escolme after just a year in the role.
06/10/10 – Universal Pictures International evp distribution head
Duncan Clark has promoted Niels Swinkels to managing director,
UPI U.K. and Ireland.
Currently svp distribution, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Swinkels
replaces Simon Hewlett who was recently promoted to evp marketing for UPI.
The Dutch native will now oversee distribution and all other activities
surrounding Universal’s theatrical titles across the U.K. and Ireland
including upcoming titles “Despicable Me,” “The Kids Are Aright” and “Paul.”
Swinkels joined Universal in 2004 as international marketing director
and has served various positions including vp marketing and vp sales and
distribution.
He played a coordinating role during the region’s split from United
International Pictures (UIP) and helped smooth the transition when UPI
opened international territory offices. He will be based in London and
report to Clark.
05/10/10 – Saint@RKCR has promoted its operations partner Adam
Graham to the role of managing partner following the recent
departure of Zaid Al-Zaidy.
Graham, who helped launch Saint with creative directors David Gamble and
Simon Labbett in May 2007, will now be responsible for overseeing the
agency’s strategy and new business efforts, in addition to his previous
operational duties.
Al-Zaidy left Saint last month to join TBWALondon as chief strategy
officer. He had been managing partner at the agency for just over 18
months, and helped secure new business from brands including Kopparberg
and LG.
Before launching Saint, Graham was a global account director at
Wunderman, working on the agency’s Windows Mobile business. He has also
been the managing director of digital music specialists 3wMedia, and in
1998 founded iChooseRadio, one of the UK’s first internet radio stations.
04/10/10 – SymphonyIRI’s UK managing director Blair
Ruelens has resigned citing “family issues” and the company has
drafted in Dan Finke as interim MD.
Ruelens steps down on 16 October and will be relocating to Canada at
which point Finke will take on the role until a permanent successor has
been appointed.
Finke joined the firm in 1995 as a business analyst trainee before
moving to India in 2005 to establish and lead the company’s new offshore
client services unit. At 38 he is SymphonyIRI’s youngest ever managing
director and he was most recently corporate strategy director in the UK.
Ruelens, meanwhile, was appointed UK MD in early 2009 replacing Jeremy
McNamara in the role. He had previously worked for Cadbury Schweppes as
group director and executive vice president of sales. Earlier in his
career he held senior sales positions with General Mills, Pillsbury and
XL Foods.
01/10/10 – Clondalkin Group has appointed Malcolm Farnan
as Sales and Marketing Director of the Group’s Specialist Packaging
Division.
Farnan, originally from County Durham UK, will be based at the Group’s
headquarters in Amsterdam and will spearhead the sales development of
the Specialist Packaging Division across Europe. He brings with him 20
years successful international sales and marketing experience, having
previously worked with various prominent global brands.
Working with all the European operations within the Division, Farnan
will direct the sales and marketing effort in respect of key business
development projects in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and cosmetic
markets, as well as leading the many initiatives to further enhance the
full service offerings to the Division’s customers.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “Clondalkin is an excellent
company with a growing reputation and fantastic opportunities to build
on its strong financial and operational performance through innovative
marketing and sales effectiveness in the pharma and healthcare sectors.
It has great people, a fresh attitude and solid operations.”
David Lennon, Chief Executive Officer of Clondalkin Group Specialist Packaging Division, said: “We welcome Malcolm and we are confident he will prove a great asset to our team. Malcolm’s track record speaks for itself and he will play a crucial part in delivering a strong proposition of the highest standards for our customers.”
