M&C Saatchi has appointed highly regarded retail marketing specialist Howard Spreadbury to head of retail.
Widely considered one of the most innovative retail specialists in the market, Spreadbury has had a long career meshing data and technology with in-store environments.
He comes to M&C Saatchi from DDB Shop where he was managing director, following lengthy stints as head of brand alliance for Westfield UK and business development manager at Westfield Australia.
Prior to that Spreadbury worked at Momentum in the UK, following more than five years at MTV Networks Europe.
For the past six months he was responsible for creating a holistic brand reset and in-store environment project for BWS that has been rolled out across the liquor group’s 1,250 stores nationally.
Spreadbury also led the ‘Telstra Store of the Future’ project at the telco’s flagship outlet in Sydney’s George St. The store, which opened in November, seamlessly brings together the physical and the virtual for a high-end service-led experience that envisions the future for retail.
Other career highlights include heading Westpac’s in-branch communications, leading brand partnerships for London’s first Westfield, managing brand alliances for the likes of Sony and American Express for Westfield Australia and leading a $75m cross-platform play for MTV Europe.
M&C Saatchi Australia CEO Jaimes Leggett said: “Howard’s experience and blended skillset are best in market and there is no one better to head our retail proposition.
“His record speaks for itself. He has a vision for how tech, online, mobile and data intersect with physical retail environments and has the skills to bring that to life in a compelling way for brands and their customers. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
Spreadbury said: “M&C Saatchi has a great vision for where they want to be and amazing momentum to get there, so it’s really exciting to be part of that.
“Retail is where the rubber hits the road for brands and I love its immediacy, accountability and the scope to partner with brands and bring technology and experiences to life in dynamic customer-led retail environments.”
