Gillette unveils global restructure

The Gillette Company has relocated several senior members of its European management at its Boston head quarters and has appointed six presidents to cover the eastern hemisphere as part of a worldwide restructure.

Robert Leger, general manager northern Europe, has left for Boston, as has UK president Allan Boath. It is also believed Veronica Lewis, European marketing director, is joining them to take up a new role as US vice-president of marketing.

Ed Shirley has been appointed president administration and business development Europe, and Jrgen Buhl Rasmussen has been promoted to president northern Europe from his role as general manager Duracell northern Europe.

The other presidents are Luis Gigliani for southern Europe, Jose Ribera for Africa and middle east, Ross McMullin for central Europe and Philip Hung for Asia-Pacific.

They all report to Jrgen Wedel, executive vice-president for the eastern hemisphere in Boston.

Roger Murphy has moved from general manager Duracell UK to Gillette general manager UK & Ireland and Elena Fernandez-Bollo, formerly director general of Duracell Spain, is now European business director.

David Bashaw, regional marketing manager Northern Europe, says there have been no changes to the UK marketing teams as yet.

Gillette announced a worldwide restructure in November 1998 saying it intended to shed 11 per cent of its workforce – 4,700 jobs – over the next 12 months.

In 1996, it bought and merged with Duracell. Its latest major launch is the Mach3 razor, which has a worldwide advertising budget of 213m.