Courts names UK marketing boss

Furniture retailer Courts has appointed Richard Coe, managing director of its Jamaican division, as UK marketing director.

London advertising agency sources expect Coe’s appointment to signal a review of the retailer’s £13m ad account handled by RPM3, which was given the business in May after Lowe Howard-Spink resigned.

But Courts ad director Ian Bloom says: “At this point in time, we are happy working with RPM3. I wouldn’t envisage an agency review.”

Coe replaces Chris Coote, who left just weeks after the split with LH-S.

At the time, it was reported that Coote hired RPM3 to create a press campaign and LH-S subsequently resigned, leaving Courts without a lead agency. RPM3 was then hired to handle the whole business. Coote was reported to have left after taking the blame for the confusion.

However, Bloom says his departure “was nothing to do with the agency changes – it was by mutual agreement”.

Coe has worked for Courts for 17 years, starting as marketing director in Jamaica. He then became managing director of Courts in Trinidad & Tobago, returning to Jamaica as managing director in 1993.

Born in London in 1947, Coe was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 1999 New Year’s Honours list for his services to Jamaican community development.