Cadbury looks to US for Alan Palmer replacement

Mark Smith, vice-president of marketing and technicals for Cadbury Schweppes US subsidiary Mott’s, is tipped as the next UK marketing director for Cadbury.

Smith will replace Alan Palmer, if visa requirements are cleared. Palmer is taking the newly created role of international marketing director for Cadbury Schweppes confectionery business worldwide.

Cadbury has carried out a worldwide search for the UK marketing director slot since Stephen Mawby, the marketing controller for countlines, who was a possible successor, quit suddenly late last year (MW December 11 1997).

Smith was marketing director of Cadbury Schweppes in Australia prior to taking the vice-president post at Mott’s. Connecticut-based Mott’s is the brand for apple drinks.

Cadbury is planning a number of new product launches for 1998. It is understood that one will be a copycat version of Mars Celebrations – bite-sized versions of existing chocolate brands.

Watch and Win Lotto, the next phase of Cadbury’s 10m Coronation Street sponsorship deal, begins this week. Street fans will match numbers inside chocolate bar wrappers with numbers appearing in the bumper breaks for cash prizes (MW 11 December 1997).