Hovis in hunt for marketing head

Hovis, the RHM-owned bread brand, is seeking a chief marketer following the departure of head of marketing Simon Foster.

Hovis is searching for a candidate to replace Foster, who has moved to sister company, cake manufacturer Manor Bakeries, as head of marketing for Mr Kipling and Lyons.

Foster was promoted from plant marketing manager to head of marketing for Hovis last July. The move was part of a reorganisation of the marketing team, which saw it centralised under RHM British Bakeries divisional marketing director Paula Moss (MW July 31, 2003).

Foster’s appointment at Manor Bakeries is one of three new roles created by brands director Kate Taylor to strengthen its marketing team. Sharon Whitehead, former marketing manager for Mr Kipling, has been promoted to head of marketing for Cadbury cakes and seasonal events, and Catherine Campbell, who also joins from British Bakeries, has been appointed head of consumer planning.

Taylor, a former McDougalls Foods managing director, was appointed last summer following the departure of Ian Ayling, who had been marketing director for three years (MW August 14, 2003).

RHM divisional marketing director Moss, a former Hovis brand manager, oversees the three companies in the RHM Bakeries portfolio – Bread Bakeries, Rank Hovis and Le Pain Croustillant. She is responsible for marketing and innovation across the portfolio of brands, which also includes Mother’s Pride and Nimble.