Sainsbury’s has named former Heineken executive Sarah Warby as its new marketing director.

The UK retailer, which saw the previous appointment for the role decide four months later not to take the job, said today (23 January) that Warby would join the company on Monday.

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Warby left Heineken’s UK arm in June after seven years at the brewing giant. Prior to her role at Heineken, she had stints as marketing manager and innovation director for beer brand Foster’s.

She will report in to Sainsbury’s commercial director Mike Coupe. He said: “Sarah’s a fantastic hire for us. She played a huge role in Heineken’s UK success and has a great track record and reputation.”

Last month, Sainsbury’s admitted that Mark Horgan, the Mastercard executive it had lined up to be its next marketing director, decided against taking the role for “personal reasons”. Horgan, who has spent time at United Biscuits, Mars Inc and Nestle, will join foreign exchange firm Moneycorp as CEO.

Sainsbury’s also said last month that Claire Harrison-Church, its director of brand communications, will leave the retailer next month to “pursue other opportunities”.

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Two weeks ago, it emerged that Rebecca Singleton, head of non-food marketing at Sainsbury’s, will join Morrisons as marketing director in March.

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