Mappin jewellery group hunts head of marketing

NEWS

The luxury jewellery, watch and silver group formed from the recent management buyout and merger of Mappin & Webb and Watches of Switzerland is looking for a director of marketing.

MW Group is recruiting a chief marketer in the run-up to possible flotation on the stock market in three to five years’ time.

Mappin & Webb’s management team, led by managing director Judith Pilkington, completed a management buyout last Christmas and also purchased Watches of Switzerland from parent company Asprey Group.

The new director of marketing will formulate a three- to five-year marketing plan to boost the companies’ profiles through advertising, PR and sponsorship.

The group says Mappin & Webb and Watches of Switzerland will keep separate brand identities.

The position carries a salary of £50,000, plus benefits, but it is not known whether these include share options if the company does float.

According to AC Nielsen, £1.5m was spent on advertising the brands last year through press and radio.

M&C Saatchi handles both the creative advertising accounts, and Optimedia holds the media buying accounts.

Marketing for both brands is currently the responsibility of marketing manager Julia Jackson.

The 220-year-old Mappin & Webb has 14 stores, with ten new outlets expected to open over the next two years. Watches of Switzerland has 18 stores.