Guinness Worldwide hunts npd supremo

Guinness Brewing Worldwide is understood to be seeking a new product development (npd) chief.

According to sources, the brewing company has hired a headhunting firm to help it fill the 70,000 post.

The job, as worldwide director of npd, is expected to be based at the Guinness Ireland operation which houses the Guin ness Brewing Worldwide laboratories.

The post is senior, reporting directly to the Guinness board.

Industry sources say the position will involve reassessing all Guinness’ brewing brands, including Guinness canned and draught, Harp and the alcohol-free lager Kaliber.

The brewing company is also known to be looking for an npd executive who will work as part of Guinness Ireland’s marketing department.

– Guinness stepped smartly back into the closet this week when it denied that it had

ever planned to run a “gay” commercial.

The brewer was commenting on press reports that, through its agency Ogilvy & Mather, it planned to use advertising director Tony Kaye to create the commercial featuring the first gay couple to appear in a British TV advertisement.

“To set the record straight, at no time did we ever set out to make a so-called ‘gay’ ad, nor will we be screening one.

“It’s a case of ‘The Ad That Never Was’,” says Guinness Brewing marketing director Rob McNevin.