The Link picks Argos boss for branding task

The Link, the mobile retailer that is part of the Dixons Group, has appointed Argos’s head of business development Mike Ashley as its marketing director.

Ashley will report to The Link’s managing director Nick Wood. He replaces Joe Garner, who has moved to become operations and business development director at Dixons (MW May 29).

Ashley’s brief will be to increase brand awareness, building on its latest campaign, “We know how to save you money,” created by M&C Saatchi.

Wood says: “‘We know how to save you money’, a progression of our ‘Powered by Knowledge’ campaign, is one of our most successful advertising campaigns to date. Mike’s skills are well placed to consolidate and develop this success.”

The Link has teamed up with Shields Environmental to launch what it claims is the UK’s first nationwide mobile phone recycling scheme, designed to raise funds for local charities and community groups.

The Dixons Group, which also owns Dixons and Currys, and rival Comet are at the centre of an investigation by the Competition Commission into extended warranties. The Commission is due to hand its report to the Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt this week.

It is expected to recommend the introduction of measures designed to protect consumers against pressurised selling of warranties, including new cancellation and refund rights.