By Sarah Falson

MELBOURNE: ED Oates, Bissell’s Australian distributor, has made two important additions to its marketing team, with one promotion from within the company and another fresh recruit.

“With the expected growth in new product development in 2007/8 ED Oates have promoted Monique Lania to the position of Product Development manager following her success in managing sales, marketing and product development of the Bissell Floor Care agency within ED Oates,” said ED Oates general manager sales and marketing, David Birch.

“ED Oates is a market leader in cleaning products selling over 1,500 lines to the domestic and industrial sectors. Monique’s role will be to ensure our leadership is maintained by managing our product development and engineering teams with great new innovation and design in the cleaning arena.”

According to Birch, he didn’t think twice about looking within the company to fill the role.

“When this role became available our immediate thought was to look within our ranks for a suitable person, and Monique’s work with the Bissell brand made our search and decision an easy one,” he said.

As part of Lania’s new role she will be involved in the introduction of new Bissell products to the Australian floorcare market as well as working on product development projects within the Oates business in the household and commercial cleaning product industry.

The Bissell Marketing and Sales Team has also expanded with the recent appointment of a new marketing and sales coordinator, Libby Ristevska, who will be coordinating Bissell marketing activity and assisting with key retail account management.

“We had at the same time already appointed Libby Ristevska to bolster the sales and marketing support team,” said Birch.

“Libby will be working closely with the national account management team in supporting our national retail partners as well as looking for new sales and marketing initiatives for the great new products in the Bissell floorcare category.

“We are pleased to both welcome Libby and congratulate Monique on her promotion.”