Tesco data marketing boss moves to Sainsbury’s
Andrew Mann is joining UK supermarket chain Sainbury’s from rival Tesco this month, to take up the post of Director of Customer Insight and Loyalty. Mann, the main data marketer at Tesco, initially joined the company in 2004 as marketing director of its Clubcard loyalty scheme. In June 2008, he moved into the post of Marketing Director for Planning and Innovation to analyse how different aspects of the firm’s marketing fit together strategically.
he was replaced in the Clubcard role by former Olympic athlete Janet Smith, who had been working for Tesco’s US operation as international space, range and display director.
Prior to Tesco, Mann worked for British Gas as Head of Brand and Communications, and for 14 years before that, he held senior brand and marketing roles at Cadbury Schweppes and Coca-Cola.
Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King says he is looking to recruit some high profile marketing executives as part of a ten-year plan to target Tesco’s postion as the number one UK supermarket chain.
The creation of the new post to be filled by Mann is part of its strategy to use customer insight to help it ride out the effects of the recession, retain existing customers and win back those who have gone elsewhere.
Sainsbury’s has also appointed former Boots marketer Claire Harrison-Church as Director of Brand Communications.
Mann’s appointment comes as Sainsbury’s restructures its London head office as part of a cost-saving exercise.
As part of the re-structure, Sainsbury’s has created three business units; non-food, grocery and fresh food. Theretailer says the changes will include a simplification of internal structures and a reduction in the duplication of roles. It is estimated this will mean around 200 job cuts, or 5% of its London HQ workforce.
Sainsbury’s says it hopes to redeploy as many members of staff as possible in other areas of the business.
Sainsbury’s employs 150,000 people in its 509 supermarkets, 276 convenience stores, and Sainsbury’s Bank. The firm says it plans to create 5,000 new jobs through store openings this year.