The Raft brings in Bartle to form youth division
Cheshire marketing agency The Raft has hired former Diadora marketer Simon Bartle to set up a youth brand division specialising in fashion, music and sport.
Bartle was previously a director at CIA Manchester and Diadora's UK marketing controller before starting his own marketing consultancy, Get Real.
Phil Howells, creative director at The Raft, said: "Simon has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to build brand relationships in the youth arena, growing our client portfolio.
"There are few agencies outside London with dedicated teams that truly understand the market and we want to be the exception, creating a haven where youth brands can be confident they will be working with people who truly understand them, what they do, need and aspire to be.”
The Raft says its youth division will offer the "full range of marketing services", including social networking, product placement, digital, events, sponsorship and celebrity endorsement.
Bartle said: "Youth brands in particular are always looking at new and different ways to help them stand out.
"I intend to marry my expertise with that of The Raft to deliver the complete array of integrated marketing solutions, providing businesses with fantastic ability to establish and build brand relationships in the youth market.”