He left the toys and games manufacturer after the company cut four marketing positions at the beginning of the year. His extensive retail experience also includes stints at Safeway and Sainsbury's.
At Woolworths, Trinder will oversee advertising, and promotional and in-store communications. He reports to marketing director Octavia Morely.
Woolworths has revamped its visual identity and branding in-store, following the appointment of chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones in March.
In a statement, Woolworths said its agency relationships will be unaffected by the appointment, with Bates UK and Zenith Media handling the creative work and the media planning and buying respectively.
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