Samsung New Zealand lures Shannon Watts to head up newly structured marketing team

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the appointment of Shannon Watts to the Samsung leadership team, in the role of group marketing director as a result of organizational changes.

The role is new for Samsung, following the merging of both the Mobile phone and Consumer Electronics businesses. Watts moves from Mars New Zealand where she headed up the marketing team across confectionary, food and petcare.

Previous to her role at Mars, Watts came from a beauty background working at Coty Beauty in the UK, and then more recently as marketing director for L’Oreal consumer division in New Zealand for many years.

Says Jens Anders, vice president of Samsung New Zealand: “We are excited that Shannon will be joining and heading up our new combined marketing structure. She has a great depth of experience across FMCG, innovation and collaboration. I have had the privilege to work with Shannon in a previous role and know that she will bring a fresh perspective and plenty of great new initiatives. I think she’s going to be a fantastic addition to Samsung and bring a new level of expertise to our marketing function.”

Watts brings with her a wealth of local and international FMCG marketing experience, digital brand building and a strong focus internally within people and culture. Within the newly devised role there are aspirations for Shannon to lead Samsung’s new pillar for the brand as a collaborative marketing effort under the new One Samsung banner.

Says Watts: “I am looking forward to bringing my wealth of experiences to the ever evolving and fast paced consumer electronics world. Samsung is a huge global brand, and the third most trusted brand in New Zealand, with an enviable product portfolio that spans from class leading phones and TVs, through to home staples like fridges and washing machines. There is truly a Samsung product for every Kiwi and that is something that attracted me to the role.”

Watts is now in the role and currently working internally with the marketing teams as well as forging strong relationships with Samsung’s agency partners, which include Tribal DDB, Mango, Starcom, Cheil and Acumen.