Catapult Marketing Taps Former Giant Food And Walmart VP to Lead Its Nashville Office
WESTPORT, CONN., March 13, 2012 — Catapult Action-Biased Marketing has hired a former Walmart VP of Merchandising/Store of the Community and former VP of Marketing at Giant Food Stores to head up its Nashville office. Michael Dobbs has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of Catapult Nashville. With his CPG experience including stints heading up the marketing at two Colgate-Palmolive subsidiaries, the hire strengthens Catapult’s expertise in shopper marketing from the retail and CPG side.
Dobbs will be responsible for growing existing accounts and securing new business, assisting in global expansion initiatives and providing thought leadership, while elevating strategic thinking in core disciplines.
“Michael’s deep retail strategy and merchandising experience strengthens our shopper marketing service offerings,” Cloutier said. “Our clients will reap the benefits of his first-hand retail expertise, and that will translate into expansion and transformation of our growing retail leadership position within shopper marketing.”
Most recently, Dobbs served as CMO and General Manager of Direct Marketing at Brookstone Co., where he demonstrated a digital dexterity, increasing the novelty gift retailer’s growth in e-mail and Internet marketing. He also worked with the retail team to launch a consistent store brand feel in all locations via brand, promotion and merchandising.
Before then, and perhaps most notably, Dobbs drove the development of Walmart’s "Store of the Community" (SOTC) initiative, differentiating stores by urbanicity, ethnicity, income and maturity. He created store groups that were distinguished by assortment strategy, display and seasonal events. He opened the first prototype store in 2008 and additional stores in 2009. The initiative detailed a store’s merchandising and operating opportunities by defining the geographic attributes of each location and designing biographies that explained the customer base and what set them apart.
Dobbs also managed the marketing function for Ahold USA’s Giant Food Stores banner. He was responsible for the innovative grocer’s marketing, advertising, CRM, research, promotion, PR, consumer affairs, and event marketing. Successfully, he increased sales by leading a health and wellness initiative in Giant stores and developed a strategy to reposition Giant’s brand image. He also drove CRM through a successful launch of its loyalty card marketing. On the brand side, Dobbs garnered global experience working as International Marketing Director for Ben & Jerry’s and as Marketing Director at Colgate-Palmolive, Moscow, Russia. Both positions gave Dobbs the chance to implement new product introductions.
About Catapult Action-Biased Marketing
Catapult Action-Biased Marketing creates insight-based solutions that drive consumers to action. The agency’s brand-savvy, street-smart approach helps build brand equities, while working relentlessly to drive the sale. Catapult services include consumer, shopper and retail insights, consumer promotions, shopper marketing, digital (Web, Mobile, Social, CRM), direct, experiential, sales analytics, and merchandising — all through an integrated team approach.
Catapult is a PROMO 100 "Agency of the Year," ranking among The HUB Magazine's "Top 12 Shopper Marketing Agencies,” and has won more than 100 industry awards. Catapult has offices in Westport, Conn., Los Angeles, Nashville, Bentonville, and Phoenix.
For more information: www.catapultmarketing.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Barbara Lisi
203-259-4554 / blisi@voxone.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Barbara Lisi
203-259-4554 / blisi@voxone.com