Waterstone’s appoints Ocado marketer as commercial director.

Waterstone’s, the HMV-owned book chain, has appointed Neil Jewsbury to the new role of commercial director. He joins from online retailer Ocado.

Jewsbury will oversee the marketing, internet and product teams at the bookseller, which recently acquired rival Ottakar’s.

He was head of trading and marketing at online grocery outlet Ocado, which operates deliveries for Waitrose, for six years. It is not known if the retailer has appointed a replacement.

Waterstone’s created the commercial director position early this year after marketing director Lesley Miles was made redundant amid a restructure. Head of marketing Julia Cove-Smith is on maternity leave until the end of the year, and her position is being covered on an interim basis by Sandra Adar, who has previously worked for Tesco, Homebase and Wickes.

Jewsbury will take up his role at the end of October. He began his career at Marks & Spencer in the UK before moving to the retailer’s Hong Kong operation. Waterstone’s managing director Gerry Johnson says: "Neil will play a leading role in the future development of our offer."