Neal’s Yard seeks marketing director to lead expansion

Neal’s Yard Remedies, the organic and ethical beauty retailer, is seeking a marketing director to join the company at board level.

The company has created the role ahead of plans to expand in the UK and overseas. The successful candidate will be responsible for appointing a new ad agency and a number of marketing services providers to support its marketing strategy.

Last month, the company appointed Jonathan Hook as managing director to head the expansion. Hook, a former Carphone Warehouse retail managing director, says he is looking for a heavyweight marketer with the experience to exploit the fast-growing natural beauty and health care sector.

Hook says: “The Neal’s Yard brand has tremendous potential. We are looking for someone with a passion for the natural health and beauty sector, and the discipline to steer the company’s marketing.”

He says that the company plans to add ten company-owned stores to Neal’s Yard’s current UK portfolio of 21 company-owned shops and nine franchises this year. The broader expansion strategy also includes overseas markets. It already has 12 outlets in Japan.

Neal’s Yard opened its first store in Covent Garden in 1981. Peter Kindersley, founder of publishers Dorling Kindersley, bought a controlling stake in 2005, for reportedly over £10m.

Neal’s Yard reported strong growth for the three months to December 31, especially in online sales.