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Myer boss Bernie Brookes to be involved in creative pitch as retailer begins hunt for new marketing boss

Myer's Megan Foster

Myer’s Megan Foster

Myer says CEO Bernie Brookes will be taking a “keen interest” in the retail chain’s current creative agency pitch, following the move of marketing boss Megan Foster to the role of managing director of the company’s fashion label Sass & Bide.

The changes are part of a wider restructure of the marketing division which will eventually see a new Myer marketing boss take responsibility for the company’s marketing, digital services, online, loyalty program, events and commercial services.

“The pitch is still being run through our procurement team but it is a very important contract,” said a Myer spokesman, who emphasised the pitch would continue despite a new marketing boss not yet being appointed.

Myer called the pitch at the start of this month, two years before Badjar Ogilvy’s contract had been due to expire. At the time Myer signalled it wanted fresh thinking on how its digital marketing was done.

“Procurement reports into finance so CFO Mark Ashby (will have oversight), but it is an important contract so Bernie Brookes will have a keen interest in the outcome of it,” she said.

The company has told Mumbrella, yesterday’s management changes are part of a wider restructure of the company’s marketing division, one that has seen the company bring services such as digital in-house.

Under the changes the Myer one loyalty program, commercial services and events will also be brought under marketing’s oversight. “All of these functions will be brought together under a new executive manager,” said the spokeswoman.

“It makes sense to bring together a number of functions that have been working as stand alone functions”, she said.

“We are taking an omni-channel view of our customer and therefore it makes sense for online to sit with marketing and digital because we are communicating with our customer through a range of channels. We need to be consistent in that.”

Earlier this month Mumbrella revealed how terms of Myer’s creative pitch require that anyone who wants the business must be willing to set up a bespoke agency located at the retailer’s offices. The account is currently held by Badjar Ogilvy however, earlier this month Myer called a creative pitch for the business two years ahead of schedule.

The promotion of Foster comes after three years in the role of group general manager marketing and brand. Prior to role Foster has also held a variety of other roles with the company, which she join in 2006.

“Megan has been a member of the Sass & Bide board since we acquired our 65 per cent stake in 2011,” said the Myer spokesman. “She has been promoted into the Sass & Bide business as managing director and will share the management of the business with David Briskin.”

The company said it was now undergoing the process of finding a replacement.

“We are working through a process of interviewing candidates for a permanent position however, we can’t speculate on how long that process will take,” said the spokeswoman.

“The title has not been finalised but that person will be responsible for marketing, digital services, online, events and commercial services.”

Nic Christensen 

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