Dunhill hands marketing post to Guerlain director

Luxury fashion brand Dunhill has appointed Sophie Hanson as director of marketing services, following the departure of Linda Tipping, who left the company two months ago. It is not known whether Tipping had a job to go to.

Hanson, who will report to Dunhill chief executive Simon Critchell, was previously director of fragrance marketing at LVMH-owned cosmetic company Guerlain.

Dunhill, previously known as Alfred Dunhill, is part of Swiss luxury goods company Compagnie Financière Richemont, which owns brands such as Cartier, Chloé, Piaget and Baume & Mercier.

Two years ago, the company moved Critchell, who was running Richemont’s US division, to London with a brief to transform the Dunhill brand. Critchell is reportedly trying to attract a younger and trendier market, without alienating Dunhill’s traditional customers.

Critchell’s predecessor, Guy Leymarie, helped Dunhill gain credibility with younger consumers by sponsoring the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Leymarie also opened a “men’s club” concept store in London’s Bond Street.

Richemont’s £70m media planning and buying account is handled by CIA, which was appointed to the European account two years ago. (MW November 30, 2000). The account was previously split between Starcom Motive, Media Planning Group, Total Media and Initiative Media.