Britvic moves GB marketing chief to global role
Britvic’s top UK marketer Jonathan Gatward is to stay at the soft drink maker in a newly created role overseeing development of adult soft drink brands, such as J20 and Juicy Drench, and marketing capability.
Marketing Week reported in April Gatward was to leave his GB marketing director role after a review of the company’s structure. Britvic, however, has decided to keep the GB marketing director role and is currently recruiting for a replacement.
Gatward will assume responsibility for growing adult soft drinks sales across the world as well as extending established brands such as J20 into new occasions through NPD. He will also lead on global strategic marketing capability initiatives to spread best practice.
His appointment is part of the company’s international expansion plans. Britvic previously stated its intention to expand in markets such as Spain and the US when the company decided against a merger with AG Barr last year.
Sales have improved since. Britvic Group revenue rose 4.1 per cent year on year to £329.5m and in its latest quarter lifted by a 4.6 per cent spike in its biggest GB market.
Gatward will continue to report to CMO Matt Barwell, who joined earlier this year from Diageo. Barwell says of Gatward’s appointment: “I am delighted that Jonathan will be staying with Britvic and moving into the strategic marketing and innovation team. He brings a huge amount of experience in marketing, combined with strong leadership skills and I look forward to his contribution to the ongoing development of our adult brands and our marketing expertise across the globe.”
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