KMI poaches Coty director to fill new sales and marketing position

KMI, owner of the King of Shaves brand and the skinand haircare brands of Ted Baker and Speedo, has appointed Coty marketing director Quentin Higham to be its first sales and marketing director.

A KMI spokesman says the company created the position of sales and marketing director to oversee the strategic development of its expanding business.

Coty appointed Higham last year as marketing director of Coty Export, responsible for exports to Europe, the Middle East and the Nordic countries.

Higham joined Coty from Swatch Group, where he was Swatch brand director (MW June 7, 2001), prior to which he was UK and Ireland marketing director at cosmetics company Revlon. He joined Swatch in June 1999.

Higham will be responsible for KMI’s premium mass brands, such as King of Shaves and Fish Unisexy. KMI was set up by entrepreneur Will King.

Early this year, King of Shaves announced the launch of a shaving gel aimed at spotty teenagers, called AlphaGel ASC2 (MW April 18).

Higham will also be responsible for the recently launched Speedo Protek range. In May, the swimwear brand, owned by Pentland, lent its name to the range of toiletries, developed in association with KMI.