JB Hi-Fi cuts marketing director role in management restructure

Sarah Homewood
By Sarah Homewood | 13 April 2016
 

JB Hi-Fi has undergone a management restructure, which sees the marketing director role cut from the business.

The spot was previously held by Kevin Ramsdale who left the business recently, after joining JB Hi-Fi mid-2015.

Ramsdale previously worked for NAB for five years and was instrumental in the development and execution of the bank's Cannes Grand Prix winning ‘Break Up’ campaign.

Prior to NAB, Ramsdale held a variety of senior roles in marketing, product, sales and customer service at Bupa and The Ford Motor Company.

CEO of JB Hi-Fi, Richard Murray told Channel News that the management shake-up will see the business focus on its online, digital and marketing operations.

As part of the restructure, Ernst & Young Consulting partner, James Saretta, has been named strategy and digital director.

In other changes reported by Channel News, the business' current merchandise director, Cameron Trainor, will take on the responsibility for marketing on top of his current role.

Gary Siewert has also been named as general manager of marketing reporting to Trainor.

Murray said: “In many ways this formalises how we are currently operating. James will take on overall P&L and strategic responsibility for digital, which will include online. Members of the executive team will support the online/digital business as part of their broader responsibilities, with James being the champion for digital in the executive team”.

The retailer has been aiming to focus on digital, with this showing in its latest results. In its half year results the business reported that its online sales were up 28.9% in its half year 2016 results.This was said to be driven by strong promotion across the Chistmas period.

Online sales account for 3% of total sales, with Murray flagging at the time that its digital solutions would be a big focus for the business.

He said JB HI-FI Solutions is a "key driver of our future growth" and it will continue with its "aggressive recruitment plan" as it expands its product and service offer.

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