Gillette moves shaving marketer to head European personal care unit

Gillette has promoted its North American head of commercial operations for male shaving, Jeff Reilly, to chief European marketer for its new personal care division.

As European business unit manager for personal care, Reilly will report to European business director of grooming Dwight Brown. He will be responsible for all of Gillette’s personal care and toiletries products, including the Right Guard deodorant range.

The personal care products division was created in October last year in an effort to revive the flagging profits of Gillette’s toiletries business. Gillette brought in a former Coca-Cola marketer, Joseph Scalzo, last year as president of the new global unit.

Gillette’s third-quarter results in October 2001 revealed toiletries sales of $237m (&£163.5m) for the quarter – five per cent down on the previous year – while profits fell six per cent to $28m (&£19.3m).

Gillette has also promoted the business manager for the Braun shaving range in Europe, Andre van Gils, to head European marketer of its female shaving business.

Gils will be responsible for the Venus and Sensor for Women ranges. He replaces Patty Knight, who will be the new business director for the oral care speciality division based in Boston, in charge of professional and children’s oral care ranges.