Heinz chief Bailey lands top European role

Heinz sales and marketing director Robert Bailey has been promoted to head the company’s grocery division sales across Europe.

The news follows the announcement in May that Heinz is restructuring across Europe to focus the business on six categories: infant feeding, Weightwatchers, tuna, food service, petfood, and ketchup and condiments.

Bailey’s new title is sales director European grocery and his role covers France, Germany, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. He will also head the tuna business in all the above countries, as well as Italy.

Marketing in the UK will now be controlled by Jane St Clair-Miller, currently general manager of consumer communications, which means she manages Heinz’s relationship with Bates Dorland and WWAV Rapp Collins below the line.

Bailey and St Clair-Miller will both report to Heinz European grocery commercial director Nigel Clare.

A spokesman from Heinz says that St Clair-Miller’s appointment to the role of general manager corporate marketing is unlikely to result in agency reviews.

There is currently a pitch for the Weightwatchers account which EURO RSCG resigned last month.