Cosmetics manufacturer Revlon is considering upgrading its vacant
UK PR manager role to cover Europe following the appointment of a new UK
general manager earlier this month.
Revlon UK is in the midst of a restructuring program with Chris Taylor
appointed as UK general manager and several other senior appointments
expected, including a decision on the role of PR manager.
The PR role has been vacant since the departure last month of Linsey
Wooldridge to become European PR manager at out-of-town retailer BAA
McArthurGlen (BMG).
Despite being the second largest US cosmetics group, behind L’Oreal,
Revlon has spent much of 1999 seeking a buyer in the wake of decreasing
sales. In the first half of 1999 Revlon posted net sales of pounds 622
million compared to pounds 669 million in the first half of 1998. The
brand also has pounds 1 million in long-term debt.
The PR function is currently the responsibility of Marion Casey, who has
six years’ experience as a press officer at Revlon. She confirmed that
the present PR structure is currently under review.
One possibility is that the role will be extended to cover Europe. To
date, depending on whether the market is run by Revlon or a distributor,
each market has been handled by a separate in-house team or agency.
Wooldridge said that the UK office had shared some responsibility for
European projects with US-based global PR head Allyn Seidman.
Revlon offerings include cosmetics under the Revlon, Ultima II, and
Almay brands, as well as skin-care products, hair colouring and
perfume.
Wooldridge worked at Revlon for four-and-a-half years, heading a
UK-focused internal team of three which carried out all its PR
tasks.
In her new role at BAA McArthurGlen, Wooldridge is responsible for PR
strategy and agency co-ordination.
BMG uses Mercury PR as its national consultancy, while corporate PR is
handled by WMC Communications and local agencies for each of its
stores.
Caroline Neville Associates has just been appointed to handle the PR for
a new store in Ashford, Kent.
BMG has five UK operations and three elsewhere in Europe. The company
owns out-of-town warehouse stores and rents space to designer labels to
sell surplus or discontinued ranges.
