Philips appoints Consumer Lifestyle MD

Royal Philips, the consumer electronics company, has appointed Neil Mesher, currently UK sales director, to managing director of its Consumer Lifestyle business in the UK. He replaces Bret Furio, who is returning to the US to run the same division.

Mesher, who takes over the role on July 1, has worked at Philips for more than 12 years in a variety of commercial roles. He returned to the UK in January from Philips in Scandinavia, where he had been for three years.

Furio says that he has been working closely with Mesher to create the new Consumer Lifestyle division, and he is returning to the US to lead a similar strategy.

Mesher says: “We are building a strong platform for long-term sustainable growth in the UK.”

In January, the company merged it domestic appliances and consumer electronics divisions to accelerate the company’s growth (MW November 22). It is part of its Vision 2010 strategy that aims to position Philips as a market-driven, people-centric company.

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