Homebase chief quits for Specsavers post

Sainsbury-owned DIY retailer Homebase is losing its marketing director, Andrew Molle, who is leaving to join opticians chain Specsavers in a similar role.

Molle leaves this week, and takes up the 120,000 a year position of marketing director in two weeks’ time. The opticians group, with an advertising budget of 7m, has been without a marketing director for three months since the departure of Bob Murray.

Homebase will replace Molle with Mike Samuels, who is senior manager product marketing at Sainsbury’s supermarket chain. Molle was appointed as marketing director for Homebase following its takeover of the Texas chain in January. Texas marketing director Peggy Cornwell was made redundant, along with other senior Texas marketing staff (MW May 19).

Samuels will be in charge of one of the largest retail marketing budgets in the UK. Homebase has a combined advertising budget for Homebase and Texas of 27m. He will also preside over marketing for the conversion of Texas stores to the Homebase format.