Cussons restructures in brand innovation push

PZ Cussons has restructured its business into two separate divisions, with independent marketing operations, in order to concentrate more on brand development.

Cussons Brands will be responsible for product innovation, new brand development and international expansion as well as the recently acquired Charles Worthington haircare division.

The division’s marketing team will be headed by former PZ Cussons head of group marketing Paul Colback, who was parachuted into Charles Worthington as marketing director earlier this year following the acquisition (MW July 8).

Cussons UK will concentrate on existing UK brands, including the Imperial Leather range and Carex antibacterial soaps. Neill Craigie will oversee marketing for the division as commercial director. Craigie was promoted to commercial director of PZ Cussons earlier this year, following the departure of UK marketing director Dominic Box to Premier Foods (MW April 1).

The company’s advertising roster has still not been settled. Charles Worthington advertising briefs have previously been awarded on a project basis. Cussons’ agency of record is BDH/TBWA, although the company has said the Charles Worthington account will not automatically be handed to the agency.