Clarke, who will join the troubled retailer later this year, replaces brand director Muriel Stirling, who was a victim of chief executive Kate Swann's jobs cull two months ago (Marketing, January 15).
He will oversee WH Smith's future business strategy, to be agreed following the completion of a company-wide operational review at the end of this month. The review will finalise job losses at its Swindon head office, as well as changes in strategic direction, such as the decision to drop CD singles, announced last month.
WH Smith's head office employs 90 marketers, with 25 tipped to be axed.
A spokeswoman said numbers had not yet been decided.
Last month former B&Q marketing director Stephen Robertson was hired to fill the retail marketing director role on an interim basis, following Stirling's departure. Robertson will remain at the group until Clarke is released from his Argos contract, which could be as late as September.
Robertson will lead reviews of WH Smith's £9m creative and media accounts; Swann will play a part in the pitch process. Appointments are expected in April.
DDB London, Clemmow Hornby Inge, Delaney Lund Knox Warren, Euro RSCG London, J Walter Thompson and WCRS are pitching for the creative work.
MediaCom, Walker Media, Universal McCann, Carat and incumbent Starcom Motive are in the running for the media business.
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