Benson appoints retail packaging expert to lead growth strategy

Folding carton manufacturer Benson Group has appointed Dr Helene Roberts to the role of group marketing director as it strives to reach ‘the next level of packaging excellence’.

In her role, Roberts will be responsible for developing and delivering the strategic marketing, communications and innovation offering of the Benson Group across both food and healthcare packaging sectors.

She joins Benson Group after two years as executive director of retail in Europe at Sealed Air Corporation, where she developed a retail strategy for the business, including the establishment of a global center of excellence.  

Previous roles included a number of positions at Marks and Spencer (M&S) from 1997 to 2011. As head of packaging at M&S, she had commercial and technical responsibility for the development of all food and drink packaging at the retailer. She led its responsible packaging strategy as part of the retail operation’s environmental initiative, known as Plan A.

The group marketing director role is a new position at Benson Group, and Mark Kerridge, managing director of the packaging manufacturer, said: ‘As we continue to grow as a business it becomes essential to adopt a more detailed group marketing strategy. Helene’s experience in sales and marketing roles, plus her time spent with a major UK retail business, made her the ideal candidate for this position.

‘We firmly believe that Helene will be able to help us take Benson Group to the next level of packaging excellence.’

Roberts (pictured, top) has a PhD in polymer engineering, gained at the Department of Materials Engineering within the University of Wales, Swansea.

She said: ‘Benson Group has grown phenomenally over the past decade. As the business continues to expand, I am looking forward to being involved with the creation of a more detailed marketing and communications strategy, and further developing the innovative offerings from the company for a market that is highly receptive to new and exciting packaging solutions.’

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