Findus appoints UK marketing director

Frozen food brand Findus has appointed former Asda marketer Slyvia Banbrough as its UK marketing chief. Her appointment follows a thorough review of the brand’s UK marketing operations.

Banbrough joins nine months after the brand’s two top marketers, European marketing director Suzanne Nagle and UK marketing director Gerardo Mazzeo, left the company without jobs to go to (MW January 22).

Banbrough joins Findus from Asda, where she held a variety of marketing roles. She joined the retailer as head of marketing for grocery and was later promoted to head of marketing for own-brand products. She then had her role expanded to a European role.

Findus recently appointed Katie Pigg as category manager (MW May 13) and it is looking to strengthen its marketing team with further appointments.

Findus carried out a review of its business across Europe last year and it is understood to have looked carefully at the future of its UK operation after it failed to perform in line with expectations. It decided to decentralise its European marketing team after the review. Individual country marketers now report to senior vice-president for marketing and innovation Henk Spoon.