Co-operative Group appoints director of insight and planning
The Co-operative Group has appointed Neil Carden to the newly created post of director of insight and planning.
Carden, who will join the Co-op next month, will report to group director of marketing Gill Barr. He will play a key role in helping to develop the group’s customer proposition across its family of businesses which include food retailing, financial services, funerals, pharmacy, internet electricals and motors.
His main areas of responsibility will include customer research and analysis, customer targeting and the measurement of marketing effectiveness.
Carden, whose experience covers retailing, retail banking and payment systems, joins from MasterCard Advisors, where he headed the business in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Gill Barr commented: “Neil has a proven track record of success in providing businesses with the insight they need to formulate effective marketing strategies and he will make an invaluable addition to the team in this senior new role.”
Neil Carden added: “I’m delighted to be joining an organisation which has one the country’s most trusted brands. The Co-operative occupies a distinctive place in retailing and I look forward to helping it stand out effectively in the marketplace.”
The Co-operative Group operates over 5,000 retail trading outlets, employs more than 110,000 people and has an annual turnover of £13.7 billion.
