Metro International raids P&G for global marketer

Metro International, which publishes free newspapers in more than 100 cities worldwide, has appointed former Procter & Gamble marketer Sidonie Kingsmill to the new role of global marketing director.

Metro says the appointment of Kingsmill will bring it “cutting-edge brand marketing” across the 20 countries in which it operates.

Her remit will be to develop a marketing strategy for the next ten years and strengthen Metro’s market presence with readers, online users and advertisers.

She will oversee a team of 40 marketers across the group and is to be located at Metro’s London offices. Metro says it did not consider internal candidates for the role.

Kingsmill says: “I’ll be working with our global managing directors and sales and marketing heads to create a cohesive proposition across the whole of our worldwide print and online portfolio.”

The recruitment of Kingsmill is one of a string of recent appointments by the company, including that of former BSkyB executive Tom Symonds, who is to head Metro’s new interactive division and lead its strategy to develop that side of the business.

Kingsmill was previously European marketing manager for Felix Cat Food at Nestlé Purina Care, where she oversaw product launches and advertising campaigns. Before that she ran Procter & Gamble’s £150m UK feminine care category.

Metro International is published in more than 100 cities in 20 countries across Europe, North and South America and Asia. It is not published in the UK, though its sales team and key headquarter functions are located here.

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