MARKETERS

Peg Hunter is Home Depot’s new senior director of marketing. She replaces Pat Wilkinson, who left in September for the big-box retailer’s Atlanta HQ. Hunter was previously VP marketing at Grand & Toy.

Following the surprise resignation of president/CEO Paul Cummings in June, Mitsubishi has parachuted Koji Soga from its Japan HQ into the post. Soga has spent most of his 38-year career with the brand in various leadership roles.

Former Foot Locker Canada director of marketing Karen van Hunnik has been wooed to Calgary-based Forzani Group, which owns Sport Chek and Coast Mountain Sports. Forzani Group’s recent revamp of its key brands has so far resulted in same-store sales being up an average of 6%, as of September. Last month, the chain purchased Nevada Bob’s Golf. In the newly created director of corporate marketing position, van Hunnik is responsible for advertising, promos and PR.

Larry Gregson is the latest add-on at Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara as its new VP marketing. Gregson was previously VP marketing at Casino Rama. Earlier this year, Fallsview also lured Art Frank from Casino Rama. Frank is credited with spurring the casino’s expansion, which included an entertainment centre and spa, and resulted in record financial success.

AGENCIES

Taxi Vancouver is set to open in 2007. Taxi Canada president Rob Guenette says much like the opening of the Calgary office to better service WestJet about a year ago, the Vancouver office will do the same for longtime client, Telus. ‘We’re going to hire locally,’ says Guenette about staff-up plans. At press time, Guenette would only say that an offer has been made to fill the CD position. Bill Lisowsky will be MD for both the Calgary and Vancouver offices. And in true West Coast fashion, a café as well as a retail storefront are being considered to build the brand beyond the agency, says Guenette. In other Taxi news, Trent Burton and Keli Pollock, formerly with Calgary-based Wax Partnership, have joined Taxi Calgary as co-CDs. They were winners of a One Show Gold Pencil this year for their work on Wax’s corporate campaign.

Ogilvy Toronto has nabbed Taxi’s Jane Murray as associate CD. She will be partnered with art director Ivan Pols who was deputy CD at Ogilvy Johannesburg and comes to Ogilvy Toronto as associate CD. The team will work on the agency’s coveted Dove account, in addition to Hellmann’s, Shredded Wheat and Timex. Murray was at Taxi for five years, working on marquee clients including Mini and Reitmans. While in South Africa, Pols worked on Audi and Motorola to name a few.