By Martin Vedris
SYDNEY: Samsung Australia stated that as it continues to enjoy significant growth in its Consumer Electronics Audio Visual (AV) and Whitegoods (WG) business divisions, the company has added some key staff to its marketing team.
Rodney Rodrigues has been appointed as marketing manager, Jeffrey Peake as additional CTV product manger, and Lisa Findlay moves out of corporate marketing to take on the role of MP3 product manager. In Whitegoods, Nigel Cornford has been appointed marketing manager.
Mark Powderly brings the company over 25 years experience in the consumer electronics industry. Prior to this promotion, Mark was senior product manager for CTV. Samsung stated that this newly created position is a reflection of Samsung’s AV business growth and Mark’s contribution to the category’s overall success. Reporting to Mark Beard, general manager – AV, Powderly will be responsible for ensuring Samsung’s AV product managers have an integrated marketing strategy incorporating local market statistics and directives from Samsung’s Korean Head Quarters and factories.
With over 10 years experience in marketing, most recently in the consumer electronics industry with LG Electronics, Rodney Rodrigues will also report to Mark Beard. Rodrigues will be responsible for all marketing activities across the AV division including LCD and Plasma TV, DVD, HTS, MP3, DSC, and Camcorders. Rodrigues will be responsible for developing, implementing and management of all above and below the line marketing activities and will work in conjunction with all product managers in the AV division to grow the AV category.
Lisa Findlay began her four year Samsung career as marketing assistant for AV products but spent the past two years as marketing executive in the Corporate Marketing division. Gaining valuable experience on the corporate marketing and communications side of the business, Findlay returns to the AV division to take on the role of MP3 Product Manager. Working closely with Digital AV product manager, Sagar Dave, Findlay will be responsible for providing specialist product and market knowledge to Samsung’s sales teams with the intention of increasing sales and market share for the MP3 category. Findlay will also be responsible for identifying new business opportunities and preparing detailed product marketing plans.
Over the past five years, Jeffrey Peake has been involved in all facets of product marketing within Sony’s CE division including digital still cameras, portable audio and colour televisions portfolios. Reporting to Senior CTV product manager, Evan Manolis, Peake’s role will include contributing to the achievement of the Samsung’s CE sales and gross margin objectives by identifying new business opportunities and preparing detailed product marketing plans for CTV and HTS product with specific inputs relating to price, product, promotional and advertising programs, distribution strategies, point of sale support and service requirements.
Over the past six years, Nigel Cornford has been building the De’Longhi brand in the Australian market from product development through to developing and implementing marketing plans. Working closely with Mark Leathan, general manager of WG Marketing, Cornford will be responsible for managing, developing and implementing marketing plans for Samsung’s WG division including product launch, marketing communication, POP, PR and sponsorship via Above the Line (ATL) and Below the Line (BTL) campaigns and the management and co-ordination of all associated marketing agencies.