MARKETERS
Citing ‘strategic differences’ Sears Canada, Toronto, has terminated chair and CEO Mark Cohen. Retail analyst Maureen Atkinson, senior partner with Toronto-based JC Williams Group, says Cohen couldn’t increase the chain’s share value enough. President Brent Hollister will assume the additional responsibility as CEO.
In Oct 2002, Sears told strategy that it would put more emphasis on broadcast in 2003, with 30% spent on TV and radio, up from 10% two years prior. Atkinson speculates that marketing under Hollister will be ‘less flamboyant and more measured’ with a return to hard-sell tactics like promotional radio spots and flyers. Glenn Richter, EVP and CFO of U.S. parent Sears, Roebuck and Co. takes over Cohen’s chair position.
Andrea Tushingham is the new director of marketing for Ontario shopping megaplex Vaughan Mills, set to open Nov. 4. Previously head of marketing at the Toronto Eaton Centre, she says Vaughan Mills blends retail, entertainment and leisure in a space of 1.2 million square feet. A mass broadcast, print, outdoor and direct mail campaign promoting the grand opening will begin mid-October. The second phase of the marketing strategy will focus on building consumer loyalty, says Tushingham.
Coca Cola Canada’s new group brand manager hydration, Aaron Macanuel says: ‘Water is an extremely fast-growing category’ and has set his sights on outpacing the competition. Under his watch are Dasani, Power-Aid and Evian. Previously senior product manager, cookies and handy snacks at Kraft Canada, Macanuel is currently hiring an additional member to his three-person team with possible plans for more recruits. New campaigns are expected in 2005.
AGENCIES
Toronto-based MacLaren McCann has hired Johanna Faigelman, a trained anthropologist with a background in marketing, as VP, director strategic intelligence and planning. Faigelman has provided strategic insights as a consultant to companies including Microsoft, Nestlé and Tim Hortons.
Doug Turney, president and COO at MacLaren, says it’s a move to weave social trends into the agency’s research to provide a more ‘human feel’ and ‘elevate consumer insight.’ Turney says that this approach will eventually be used for all of the agency’s clients.
Seems new accounts are heading the way of Taxi’s Montreal office. Prez Daniel Rabinowicz wouldn’t spill all the beans, but he did reveal that the agency has won two major accounts and is in the running for a third. In kind, he’s recently beefed up his staff, adding Stéphane Charier as CD and Patrick Chaubet as art director. Charier was most recently at BBDO Montreal. Chaubet has worked for Cossette and Publicis. Charier and Chaubet met at BBDO and have worked on campaigns together for the Quebec Milk Producers, Pepsi, Labatt’s Blue Dry and Chrysler. Samia Chebeir from Cossette has also been added as an account director. Three more hires are planned.
