Home Retail Group Plc : New Marketing Director Appointed to Argos Executive Board

Stephen Vowles has been appointed as Marketing Director of Argos, effective from 30 September. He will report to Managing DirectorJohn Waldenand be a member of the Argos Executive Board.

The role will incorporate all aspects of the marketing mix and several expanded areas of strategic growth. These are marketing and brand strategy, planning, communication, promotions, consumer insight and analytics, personalised marketing, own brand management and customer experience management across all touch points. Stephen will be charged with bringing to life the brand and customer strategy for Argos in its journey to be a digital retail leader. The Argos transformation plan was announced to The City in October 2012.

Vowles joins from Ladbrokes plc, where he was Customer Experience Director and chief marketer. At Ladbrokes he was responsible for building a group marketing function around traditional and digital channels, whilst driving compelling customer strategy and vision for the brand. His contribution provided a strong foundation for the recently announced partnership with Playtech, which aims to accelerate growth in Ladbrokes' Digital Business.

Prior to Ladbrokes Stephen spent six years in the United States with Stop and Shop / Giant Supermarkets where he was chief marketer responsible for all elements of the marketing mix. He has also held senior marketing roles at Sainsbury's Supermarkets, Thomas Cook Retail and various roles within Procter and Gamble.

John Walden, Managing Director of Argos, said:

"Stephen is a great addition to a strong leadership team. He will play a pivotal role within the leadership team as the 'voice of the customer' within Argos, leading the drive to become a more consumer centric company and the repositioning of the brand and customer experience to be a universally appealing digital retail leader."

Source: 4-traders
http://www.4-traders.com/HOME-RETAIL-GROUP-PLC-9590222/news/Home-Retail-Group-Plc--New-Marketing-Director-Appointed-to-Argos-Executive-Board-17255373/