±±¾©Èü³µpk10

Car repair brand Kwik-Fit has hired Black & Decker marketer Steve Wallis as its chief marketer for the UK.

Wallis joined as marketing director in January from Black & Decker where he was marketing manager. He replaces Colin McNeal, who is understood to be moving to a wider remit within Kwik-Fit.

In his new role Wallis is expected to oversee a marketing budget of around pounds 7m.

He will also oversee advertising, which continues to use the long-running endline, 'You can't get better than a Kwik-Fit fitter', with ads featuring mechanics in blue overalls. Faulds Advertising holds the company's above-the-line ad account, which it won from The Morgan Partnership in 1999. Media is handled by Media Faulds.

Wallis reports to deputy managing director, Alistair Kerr, and group marketing director Peter Holmes.

Kwik-Fit uses the Kwik-Fit brand in the UK, where it has over 650 service points, and in Ireland and Holland. It owns the name Speedy in France and Spain and Pitstop in Germany.