Fujitsu elevates top UK marketer to executive board
Fujitsu has elevated its top UK marketer, Simon Carter, to its executive board as it looks to take advantage of a growing “globalisation agenda” in the IT market.
![Fujitsu logo](https://marketingweek.imgix.net/content/uploads/2014/04/fujitsu-460-2014.jpg?auto=compress,format&q=60&w=460&h=285)
The company says the role of a strong marketing voice on the executive team is recognition of the “strong results” it has seen from the function over the past year.
In his expanded role Carter, the company’s UK and Ireland marketing director, has a mandate to enhance the reputation of the Fujitsu brand in the region, drive new business wins and strengthen relationships with existing customers as it looks to set itself apart as one of the world’s leading IT companies and to be seen as “one of the most responsible businesses in the country”.
Carter will continue to lead marketing activity in the UK and Ireland, reporting jointly to Claus-Peter Unterberger, vice group head of Fujitsu’s global marketing group and Duncan Tait, head of EMEIA CSVP.
Prior to joining Fujitsu, Carter has served in senior marketing roles at board level at Thomas Cook, The Post Office and Virgin. He was also a judge at this year’s Marketing Week Engage Awards. http://www.marketingweekawards.co.uk/judges/meet-the-judges
Carter says of his appointment: “I believe strongly that the marketing function plays an essential part of any business strategy – something which has been the subject of much debate in the marketing press in recent weeks – and I am delighted to be asked to join Fujitsu’s senior team at this time.”
The news comes less than a month after The Co-operative Group removed marketing from the executive board as part of a management reshuffle designed to “revitalise” the organisation.
The move was met with criticism from many in the industry who claimed it was a retrograde step.