ghd appoint Kynaston as marketing director
Kynaston:
ghd, the burgeoning hair beauty firm, has taken the novel step of appointing Julian Kynaston, the chairman of ad agency Propaganda, to its board.Kynaston, who is also marketing director of Manchester-based soft furnishing company Gordon John, will now take up the same position at ghd (also known as “good hair day”).
The move comes a year after the firm appointed Propaganda to consolidate its market position. In that time, ghd has increased its turnover from £14m to £30m and is currently looking to launch its sought-after, salon-only products across Europe.
Speaking about the move, ghd’s managing director Martin Penny said, “Julian and his team have been hugely influential in our continued success. Propaganda has not just created the ghd brand, it has given us the expert guidance that has allowed us to improve our business and make it ready for the next stage of growth.”
Speaking of Kynaston himself, Penny added, “ We have now given him the opportunity to directly influence the continued development of our business.”
Kynaston denied that the position at ghd would affect his role at Propaganda, citing his successful stint at Gordon John as proof. He said, “I regard my directorships as the real way forward for marketing groups with clients who are ready to appoint someone to oversee the marketing function at board level.” Defending the planning-led approach of Propaganda, he added, “This level of trust can only be established by generating tangible business benefits that improve the bottom line. Unfortunately, many agencies remain content to try and impress with the artistic merit of their work rather than the results it achieves.”
Propaganda worked with ghd for sixth months on research before introducing strategies such as their current sponsorship of Channel 4’s The Salon.