Mars hires Premier Foods’ top marketer as sales director

Helen Warren-Piper has moved from her marketing director role at Premier Foods to become sales director at Mars’ Pet Nutrition business in the UK, setting sales strategy for brands including Pedigree and Whiskas.

According to a statement from Mars, it is hoped Warren-Piper’s marketing experience will help her “apply both a marketing and commercial lens to the sales function”.

She has been in marketing for more than 20 years exclusively within FMCG. Starting her career at P&G she held various roles, including stints in business development and sales marketing.

She was also a marketing director at P&G’s then pet food business before moving on to senior marketing and business development positions at United Biscuits and then Mr Kipling maker Premier Foods, where she has held the dual UK marketing and R&D role since last April.

Warren-Piper says of her new job, which she will take up in April: “I am thrilled to be joining Mars Petcare at such an exciting time for the UK Petcare category. I will be focusing on working with our customers closely, cementing and building our relationships with them to ensure the growth of the category and of our world-leading brands.”

She replaces Jason Uttley, who is staying at Mars in an as yet unannounced new role. Her replacement at Premier Foods will be announced in the coming weeks, according to a spokesperson.