Masterfoods promotes cat food director to wider role
Masterfoods has promoted European marketing director for cat food Mark Johnson to head of the dry petfood division across Europe.
It is understood that Johnson’s new job as business development director of dry petfood is part of a change in focus from regions to categories. The company has appointed another Masterfoods marketer, Bruce McColl, to replace Johnson in the European marketing director’s role.
The restructure recently led to the departure of business development director for southern Europe Paul Kaye, who left to join Heinz as unit business director for quick-serve meals after his role was scrapped (MW September 24). It is believed he turned down a role marketing for Masterfoods in Spain.
Johnson has been with Masterfoods for over 15 years in a variety of roles, including UK marketing director of Pedigree and European marketing director for flagship brands.
Johnson briefly left the company last year to join Boots, where he was appointed retail marketing director by Anne Francke, the then strategy and development director. The pair had previously worked together at Masterfoods (MW September 25, 2003).
Francke was ousted from Boots as part of a review of the business by chief executive Richard Baker (MW October 30, 2003). Johnson consequently returned to his previous job at Masterfoods (MW November 27, 2003).