±±¾©Èü³µpk10

Woolworths has appointed former Asda home shopping chief Octavia

Morley as its UK marketing director.

Morley, 33, will oversee the retailer's £27m ad budget as it

demerges from parent Kingfisher. She was promoted to the role last week

following a year-long stint as head of clothing for Woolworths.

Morley takes over marketing responsibilities from Ken Lewis,

Kingfisher's commercial director.

Lewis was formerly marketing director, having taken over from Alan

McWalter, who left for Marks & Spencer in September 1999.

The appointment comes in the week Woolworths shares floated on the stock

exchange, following the demerger.

As well as supervising the retailer's brand advertising, handled by

Bates UK, Morley will focus on brand strategy and positioning. She said:

"My brief is to clarify our retail proposition in local stores. I will

look at our current plans and priorities and work on refining them.

Morley's immediate focus will be on this year's pre-Christmas

activity.

This is likely to be followed by a wide-ranging review of Woolworths'

marketing, in conjunction with agencies Bates UK and Zenith Media.

The retail chain also works with Storm, part of the Triangle

Communications group. Morley said that Woolworths would continue to work

with all its current agencies.

Morley, who has yet to be replaced as head of clothing, joined

Woolworths last year following spells as managing director of home

shopping and business unit director for home and leisure at Asda. She

has also worked at fashion retailer Laura Ashley as buying and

merchandising director.

Woolworths' flotation has been a rocky process, following reports of

boardroom disagreements over former Railtrack chief Gerald Corbett's

chairmanship of the company.