Remington hires ex-Pretty Polly md to head UK division

Remington has appointed former Pretty Polly managing director Kay Downs as its UK managing director.

Downs replaces Simon Russell, who left the company this summer. It was rumoured that Russell was ousted from the company following a disagreement with senior management over strategy.

Downs stepped down from Pretty Polly, a Sara Lee brand, late last year after being in the job for little over a year. She joined the lingerie and hosiery brand from coffee brand Douwe Egberts, another Sara Lee-owned company, where she was managing director for more than two years.

This summer, Remington lost its European marketing director Peta Thorniley, who left the company after less than a year in the job (MW September 12). Formerly UK marketing director, Thorniley was promoted to the new position after a global shake-up at the company, which resulted in the departure of international executive vice-president Wilan van den Berg (MW October 25, 2001).

Thorniley was replaced by Richard Rietjens, the UK marketing director who has been given the additional responsibility for the European markets.

The electrical appliances company recently appointed Spirit to spearhead an advertising drive promoting its Big Shot hairdryer. The agency is creating a Europe-wide campaign for the company. Grey Worldwide continues to handle the rest of the Remington business.