Appointments to Royal Mail’s new marketing team

Royal Mail’s Marketing Director Paul Rich has announced new directors for his team, following a structure review.

Rich is aligning his marketing team more closely with the company’s sales force to enable more effective and customer-driven development of products and services. Following the review, the marketing of all Royal Mail branded products and services will be the responsibility of Rich and his team.

The new role of Director, Brand Marketing will be taken by David Walker who will oversee Royal Mail’s brand development, market research and communication. He will be accountable for agency management, all customer communications and for maintaining loyalty and relationship programmes. Walker has been Royal Mail’s Head of Advertising Mail during the past year after returning from the United States where he headed up Royal Mail’s brand in New York and later managed the integration and running of TPG and Royal Mail’s American operations under the Spring banner. He was accountable for all operations in the USA, Canada and South America. Before joining Royal Mail as Director of Branded Markets for Post Office Ltd, Walker was Marketing Director of Network South East.

He started his career with British Airways where he held a variety of overseas and UK-based product and brand management roles before moving, in 1989, to the Rank Organisation’s airline subsidiary Novair, as Commercial Director.

Colin Beesley becomes Director Value Added Solutions with responsibilities to include developing adjacent markets, creating alliances for new opportunities and leading the development of solutions provision for customers. Beesley joined Royal Mail’s international division in 2000, as Director and General Manager, from MSAS Global Logistics where he was Sales and Marketing Director. He has also worked in senior marketing roles for DHL, International Post Corporation and UPS Worldwide Express.

Lorna Clarkson becomes Director, Commercial Policy, Management and Pricing, orchestrating overall pricing strategy. She was previously Head of Commercial and Specification within Royal Mail’s marketing team. Clarkson has worked in a variety of roles since joining Royal Mail in 1985, moving into the marketing area about four years ago. She has led the development of new Royal Mail products and services, including e-solutions.

Another appointment in the new structure is Ross Drake, currently Head of Goods and Services Distribution for Royal Mail. He becomes General Manager for unaddressed mail with responsibility for developing Royal Mail’s services in this area. Drake joined Royal Mail two years ago and previously worked in marketing roles in Littlewoods, Coca-Cola and Mars.

Paul Rich said: “As the company moves forward, its marketing is entering a new phase, building on the good work done so far. We will also be quickening the pace of change to respond more effectively to customers and fight increasing competition.”

Two other roles directly reporting to Rich are yet to be filled. These are Director, Products and Director, Sector Marketing.