Yahoo! picks UK chief

By Marketing Week 30 Mar 2000 12:00 am

Yahoo!, the world’s most visited Internet search portal, has appointed a former international Durex marketer to lead the expansion of its UK business.

Catherine Taylor, most recently worldwide marketing director for London International Group (LIG), owner of the Durex brand, takes up the position of Yahoo! UK & Ireland marketing director on April 10.

The appointment was made by Yahoo! UK & Ireland managing director Martina King, after a three-month search. Taylor, who was at LIG for nine years, left the company last year and has been working as a consultant.

At LIG she oversaw the transformation of Durex into a younger, sexier brand and two years ago launched Durex.com, the company’s website.

King says: “Catherine will make a major contribution to the senior management team. She already has a lot of experience in Web marketing.”

King says that Taylor will oversee a multi-million pound marketing budget and have responsibility for running tactical campaigns.

According to AC Nielsen-MEAL, Yahoo! spent &£400,000 on advertising for the year to June 1999. However, TV work, currently created in the US by Black Rocket, will continue to be adapted for the UK market.

The appointment comes as Yahoo! UK & Ireland announced the launch of its Internet services for wireless application protocol-enabled (WAP) devices. The service goes live this week.

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