Merloni searches for senior UK marketer

Merloni, the Italian white goods manufacturer which owns the Indesit and Ariston brands, is looking for a senior marketer who will capitalise on growth in the sector.

The new position could be either a marketing director or head of marketing, reporting to UK managing director John McDarren.

A Merloni spokesman says: “We’re doing this to bolster the marketing department, maintain a strong presence and strengthen our brands in the UK.”

The post has been created as a result of increasing growth in the UK white goods market. The sector has risen in value by 22 per cent since 1992 and was worth 2.26m in 1997, according to Mintel.

Industry pundits ascribe growth in the sector, which includes fridges, washing machines and cookers, to a number of factors, including building society windfalls and increasing demand for more fashionable, colourful products.

The sector is likely to see greater price competition following the Government’s decision to outlaw the price-fixing “recommended retail price”.

Merloni uses advertising agency DMB&B for its Indesit brand and TBWA GGT Simons Palmer for Ariston. Media buying for both brands is handled by Carat.