The Body Shop promotes UK buyer to marketing director

The Body Shop has promoted Melanie Taylor, formerly the retailer’s buying director, to its top marketing role in the UK.

Taylor has been at the beauty retailer for a number of years and has taken over the marketing director role from Joe Irons, who left to become marketing director of the company’s US operations.

Irons, a former Halfords marketer, joined the company in early 2003 to head the group’s UK marketing. At the time he was the third person to hold the post in 18 months. He replaced Sue Dover, who returned to her former post of head of marketing at Chancerealm Group, a business products company.

One of Taylor’s first tasks will be to appoint an advertising agency. The Body Shop does not traditionally advertise but has recently started looking for a creative agency through the AAR. Earlier this year the retailer joined forces with MTV to raise global awareness of HIV and Aids prevention.

As part of the “Spray to Change Attitudes” campaign the retailer created a limited edition perfume called Rougeberry Eau de Toilette that is sold in 44 countries.

The Body Shop, known around the world of selling beauty products that have not been tested on animals, was heavily criticised last year when it de-listed from the London Stock Exchange to become part of the L’Oréal Group.

In the face of the negative publicity the Littlehampton-based company has been at pains to say it operates independently of the French beauty conglomerate.