Smirnoff chief heads back to US after brand overhaul
UDV has lost the UK marketing chief of its Smirnoff vodka range, one of its biggest brands.
Jeff Amell, marketing controller with UDV UK, has left the Harlow-based job to return to the US to take up a senior marketing position with UDV North America. He oversaw all brands within the Smirnoff range, reporting to UDV marketing director Tony Scouller. His replacement has yet to be announced.
In April last year, UDV extended the Smirnoff range with a collection of flavours. The range now includes Smirnoff Red, Blue, Black, Black n’ Blue, Bloody, Twisted and Creamed. Smirnoff Red was also recently repackaged for the first time since the Fifties.
UDV’s parent company Diageo has also finalised the make-up of its new Diageo marketing excellence taskforce, a team to promote best practice and ensure consistent marketing strategies across all parts of the company.
Its members will include: Dennis Malamatinas, chief executive of Burger King; John Speirs, marketing vice-president at Pillsbury; Steve Brown, also a vice-president at Pillsbury; Mike Herbert, marketing development director for UDV; Sara Rosenberg, a senior marketer with Burger King; Andy Fennell, marketing controller at Guinness GB; Una Byrne from Diageo; and Mary Shayler, corporate human resources director for Diageo.
