John West, the UK-based tinned seafood brand, recently announced the promotion of Kate Willoughby to the role of Commercial Director. This decision came after former Commercial Director Mark Doherty was appointed as the new Managing Director in March 2024, succeeding Paul Stephenson who left at the end of February.
With over 20 years of experience in the grocery industry, Willoughby has expertise in marketing and sales, managing key retail customers. She has been with John West for the past 11 years, holding various marketing and brand controller positions. In January 2020, she transitioned into the role of Commercial Controller, overseeing a range of key accounts with her team. Prior to joining John West, Willoughby held marketing and category manager roles at FMCG companies such as Weetabix and Typhoo.
Established in 1857, John West is owned by Thai Union Group and is based in Liverpool. According to Doherty, Willoughby’s promotion reflects her dedication and commitment to the business, as well as the effective talent management efforts by John West and Thai Union.
Willoughby expressed excitement about her new role, highlighting upcoming innovation projects set to launch this year. She also mentioned the company’s partnership with ParalympicsGB as their Official Protein Partner, supporting them on their journey to Paris.
