Welsh Development Agency appoints Met Office marketer
The Welsh Development Agency has appointed Gareth John as executive director for marketing.
He takes over from acting marketing director Mike Morris, who returns to his role as finance and development director. The previous holder of the marketing position was Ron Ankers, who retired earlier this year.
John joins from the Met Office’s commercial division, where he was sales and marketing director and deputy managing director. Before that he was head of marketing at DMG World Media, the business information division of the Daily Mail and General Trust, and business planning manager for VNU Business Publications in the UK.
John says that he will be looking at the whole of the marketing operation including how the body works with its agency, Golley Slater & Partners, but he claims to have no plans for an agency review. Billings for last year were &£1.82m.
John says: “I believe that the marketing team must make absolutely sure that clients in Wales and around the world understand the way that the WDA operates – and that its aim is to provide solutions for them.”
The WDA has a brief to promote business success and attract new investment into the country.
