Lexus appoints UK marketing director
Lexus has promoted Belinda Poole to run the marque inthe UK. She joined as director this week.
Poole, who was previously general manager of operations for Lexus Europe, replaces Steve Settle, who was moved to a new role at parent Toyota at the end of last year (MW December 20, 2007).
As director of Lexus GB, Poole will have overall control of the company’s marketing strategy in this country and will report to Toyota GB managing director Miguel Fonseca, who has been overseeing Lexus since Settle left.
Settle was in charge of Lexus GB for almost three years, but has been heading a new aftersales division within Toyota GB’s marketing department since the start of this year. Aftersales was previously part of the commercial director’s roleat Toyota.
Lexus GB’s marketing chief Mark Roden had been one of those tipped to replace Settle, but he will instead report to Poole. Roden, a former Toyota marketer, joined Lexus as general manager of marketing and strategy in 2006 (MW July 6, 2006).
Fonseca took over at Toyota GB at the same time after long-serving managing director Graham Smith was handed a new dual European marketing role (MW May 11, 2006).
Settle told Marketing Week last year that Lexus was planning to launch a hybrid version of every model in its range within two years (MW April 12, 2006).
Lexus GB’s sales are up almost 3% this year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, while Toyota GB’s sales are also solid – up 0.57% on last year to the end of March.
