Former David Jones and Opera House marketer Victoria Doidge joins Event
Victoria Doidge, the award-winning former GM of marketing and communications at David Jones who left in a major sweep out of the retailer’s executive ranks last year, has joined Event Hospitality and Entertainment.
Doidge will combine her retail and entertainment experience at Event
Doidge, who was director of marketing communications at the Sydney Opera House before joining David Jones in 2013, will take on the role of general manager, entertainment marketing at the cinema and hotel company.
In the role she will oversee Event’s entertainment brands including Event Cinemas, Greater Union, the State Theatre and Moonlight Cinemas.
Doidge told Mumbrella the opportunity to join Event felt like a melding of her two previous roles with David Jones and the Opera House.
“We are in a lot of Westfield centres and there is a lot of that really retail experience as well that is important,” Doidge said.
“When I looked at the cinema industry globally I felt really excited about some of the things that are happening and I think generally screened content is having a renaissance at the cinema and at home which is so exciting for people that love content
Jane Hastings, chief operating officer of Event said the company was attracted by Doidges record of innovation. “Victoria is a recognised marketer with a unique background that combines retail, entertainment and media underpinned by a strong record of innovation,” Hastings said.
Group director of marketing, Ian Sutherland, echoed Hasting’s comments.
“Victoria’s previous roles have seen her developing strong, customer-centric brands with customer engagement that will be invaluable in ensuring our cinemas and other entertainment businesses stay the market leaders,” Sutherland said.
Doidge left David Jones in May last year, just one of a number of senior executives including CMO David Robinson to leave the business after its acquisition by South African based-retailer Woolworths.
Former David Jones CEO Iain Nairn, who left the retailer in 2015 after little more than a year in the job, described Doidge as “the best marketer I have ever worked with”.
During her five years at Sydney Opera House, Doidge’s department was named 2012’s marketing team of the year at the Mumbrella Awards.
