Harte-Hanks has promoted Jeff Simpson to SVP of retail and consumer brand markets in the firm’s direct marketing division. Reporting to Gary Skidmore, president of Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing, he will oversee a 25-employee division.
In the newly created role, Simpson will be responsible for building and executing the firm’s retail and consumer brand go-to-market strategy. He will also work with other Harte-Hanks business units to create multichannel campaigns.
Skidmore said Harte-Hanks created the position to offer a more customer-centric approach to product development and sales.
“This position fits [Simpson’s] skill-set,” said Skidmore. “He has a long career as a marketing executive at retail companies. He has a unique ability to work with customers and understand the challenges they face and how to help them solve those problems.”
Simpson joined Harte-Hanks in 2008 and was named SVP of marketing strategy and customer insight last June. Previously, he served as VP of marketing at Belk Department Stores.
Simpson’s short-term goals will be to promote Harte-Hanks’ retail and consumer brand offerings, said Skidmore.
“We have a great history in those two markets,” he said. “We need to do a better job telling that story.”
Skidmore said the company did not look externally to fill the position.
Harte-Hanks’ major clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cisco Systems, Marshalls and Toyota Motor Sales USA.
