Durex picks UK marketing chief

Durex manufacturer LRC has appointed St Ivel marketer Lewis Jones as its UK head of marketing.

He will have overall responsibility for marketing Durex, the leading condom brand. The role has also been expanded to cover LRC’s other brands, including Marigold gloves and Eucryl toothpowder.

Jones, who takes the title of senior marketing manager, will report to managing director Bob Shire.

Shire has been overseeing marketing of the Durex brand since Peter Roach, the former Durex marketing manager left four months ago to join PPP Healthcare.

Previously, Jones was marketing manager for the Shape range of brands, owned by St Ivel. He was with the company for seven years.

LRC recently launched an advertising campaign to support the Durex brand through agency McCann-Erickson. LRC is the UK subsidiary of the international company London International Group.

Last year, the group began an extensive brand globalisation programme to promote Durex as an international brand.

In the UK, the brand has more than 90 per cent volume share of the market.

Boots the Chemist launched its own-label condoms earlier this year to challenge LIG’s dominance (MW June 7).

A new kind of condom, called Topaz, is being launched in the UK. The brand, which has been created by British entrepreneur Keith Jones, is manufactured by Monaco-based Motech SAM.

Topaz is sold in a plastic container, which can be used to dispose of the condom after use. The condom is unrolled with an applicator ring, which is removed before use. Topaz sells at 3.49 for two.