Management appointment at Brand Union

Claire Watson, formerly European marketing director of Häagen-Dazs, has been appointed managing director of The Brand Union with effect from 1 October.

The group formed in July when Lambie-Nairn and sister company Tutssels pooled their resources in response to the trend for converging media (DW 18 July).

Watson takes over from Helen Owen, who has acted in the position since the consultancy’s formation. The two will work together for a transition period, after which Owen will stay in a role yet to be determined.

“My task is to design the formal strategy and to identify expansion opportunities in the company. I will assess the sources of success, and our competitive advantages, as well as looking at how things can be improved,” says Watson. She estimates the review process will take between three and six months.

The Brand Union turned over 7.9m last year. It employs 60 staff and has a client list which includes Royal Sun Alliance, PowerGen, Carlton, United Distillers, BBC, Boots and British Telecom.