Phones4U appoints marketing director

Phones4U has appointed management consultant Russell Braterman to the position of marketing director. He has taken over from Jim Slater, who recently left the company.

Braterman’s appointment comes as the mobile phones retailer gears up for an advertising pitch, due to begin at the beginning of next year. Phones4U started talking to agencies about its 7m advertising account, currently held by WCRS, earlier this year (MW September 18).

Braterman, who will be responsible for the Phones4U brand and its advertising, previously worked for WPP’s Brand Union agency, formerly known as Enterprise IG, where he began as European consulting director. He then moved to the role of head of business development, where he managed the German and Central European divisions.

Before joining WPP he worked for management consultancy company McKinsey & Co for two and half years.

He has most recently worked with consultancy company Independent, which focuses on organisation, marketing and strategic issues. Recent work has included building business development plans for Cisco’s regional account teams, and creating climate change action plans for London’s screen and theatre industries with the London Mayor’s office.

Braterman has replaced Slater, who was in the role for four years. Slater took over from Paul Hamburger, who left the mobile phone retailer in 2004 after being suspended.

Slater was previously sales and marketing director at Sunderland Football Club. He has also worked as international marketing director for Johnnie Walker Scotch at United Distillers & Vintners. It is not known if he has a job to go to.

This week a joint investigation by Ofcom and Staffordshire Trading Standards into the retailer’s practices found that the phones retailer had breached consumer protection laws. Phones4U will now be forced to demonstrate legally binding standards to the regulator.