Guinness appoints new global marketing director

The Guinness empire is set for a series of marketing shake-ups following the appointment of a new director of marketing for Guinness Brewing Worldwide.

Guinness Ireland marketing director Paul Gilham is to become director of marketing for the worldwide operation. The role has been vacant since July last year when Paul McGrane left to become chief executive of the Pickwick Group. Kim Slater, who has been acting marketing director since last July, will now report to Gilham.

Gilham’s role at Guinness Ireland will be filled by Coca-Cola Cadbury Schweppes Beverages marketing director Tim Kelly. Kelly, who is also a board director of CCSB, left the bottling company last week. He will join Guinness in one month. At CCSB, commercial director Kevin White will be promoted to fill Kelly’s role.

Kelly has been with CCSB since 1987, having joined as a junior manager. He was promoted to marketing director in 1992. Kelly is keen to stress his departure is not linked to adverse publicity about Coca-Cola and the onslaught of own-label products. “Guinness is an excellent company and an excellent brand, that is why I am going,” he says.