Yahoo! to hire marketing chief

US Internet giant Yahoo! is hunting for its first UK marketing director following the appointment of Martina King as UK and Ireland managing director this autumn.

King, who joined from media sales house TSMS in a surprise move this September (MW September 16), is to double the marketing team to help expand the Net service in the UK.

She is also seeking a product manager, brand manager, research and trade manager, and a PR assistant. Yahoo! plans to double its UK employees to 60 over the next year.

King says: “I hope to find someone with great marketing skills who wants to learn about the Net. Yahoo! is the most recognised brand in the UK – now we have to make sure we make the most of that position.”

Yahoo!, which runs online Net guides, launched in the UK in 1996. It claims 90 per cent of UK Net users use these guides each month.

King refuses to reveal her marketing budget for next year, but says it is unlikely agencies will be reviewed.

Yahoo! UK’s ads are created by US agency Black Rocket, which adapts them to the UK market.

Media is bought by Optimedia.