The fresh Group has bolstered its new business and digital teams with two senior appointments.
Ruth Downs (pictured left above) joins as business development manager from McCann Erickson, where she had worked for five years. She’s previously had spells with Blue Banana and TRO, where she worked with the likes of Diageo and Nike.
Patrick Howells, fresh MD, said: “Ruth brings a lot of agency and experiential knowledge to our already successful new business team. As a key part of the business, we pride ourselves on our new business track record and the standard of our pitches.
“Ruth really demonstrated her ability to build relationships and contribute to the high standards we set ourselves at fresh.”
Another new appointment is Gemma Illidge, who moves from BJL to take up the post of digital account director.
She will lead the strategy and creative elements of a variety of both standalone digital projects and the digital elements of full-service events and communications projects.
Illidge has also worked for Dinosaur, I-COM, Reading Room and McCann Manchester.
Michael McCabe, director of creative services, said: “She has a lot of experience delivering high profile digital campaigns for a wide range of blue chip clients and therefore offers a lot of skills and experience to add into the mix of our other in-house digital specialists.”
The fresh Group, which recently announced a new brand strategy, works with the likes of Dixons Carphone, The Co-operative Group, Santander, Hyundai and Abbott Vascular.
