Iceland hands appliance chief responsibility for retail marketing

Iceland has promoted one of its senior marketers, Sara Jamison, to the role of marketing director following the sudden departure of Alan Shepheard last month.

Jamison’s current role of sales and marketing director for Iceland’s Appliance Division will be subsumed in her new position. Jamison’s promotion, which also embraces marketing the food retail business, comes at a critical time for Iceland as it awaits the outcome of a proposed merger with the cash and carry business Booker.

Shepheard quit Iceland in May after only six months as marketing director. He arrived last November mid-way through an image overhaul for the supermarket, and reportedly left following a clash with former marketing chief and managing director Russell Ford.

Jamison, who will report directly to Ford, says: “Our vision is to change the way the British shop, by providing a unique experience based on both customer choice and product integrity. Radical marketing will be critical to the success of the business and I have a brilliant team here to make it happen.”

Jamison spent two years as head of marketing of Iceland’s food business prior to taking up her role at Iceland’s Appliance Division last November. She was responsible for the Food You Can Trust campaign launched in 1999, which focused on food integrity.