Sainsbury’s has hired Mastercard executive Mark Horgan as its marketing director.

Horgan will join Sainsbury’s “within the next six months”, the UK retailer said yesterday (10 August).

Sainsbury’s marketing strategy had been led by Gwyn Burr before she became customer service and colleague director last July. Since then, director of brand communications, Claire Harrison-Church had handled Sainsbury’s marketing initiatives.

Horgan, who will report into Sainsbury’s commercial director Mike Coupe, will be responsible for customer insights and loyalty, brand communications and non-food marketing at the UK’s third-largest retailer.

“Sainsbury’s is one of the UK’s most respected companies. It is renowned as a brand with an innovative, exciting approach to marketing that listens and quickly responds to the needs of its customers, something that is vitally important in the competitive world of retail,” Horgan said.

He joined Mastercard this year when the company acquired Travelex, where he had worked since 2009.

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Before Travelex, Horgan had roles at business directory firm The Number, where he was CEO of its business in the UK and Ireland and then in Europe.

His career also includes stints at home retailer MFI and at food manufacturers Mars Inc, United Biscuits and Nestle.

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