Reckitt Benckiser keeps SSL group marketing director
The marketing director responsible for Durex and Scholl has been retained by the brands' new owners Reckitt Benckiser.
Sydow had held the group marketing director role at SSL since 2005, but plans for the firm's marketing department have been unclear since the company was bought by Reckitt Benckiser in the summer.
Reckitt Benckiser has now confirmed that Volker will immediately take up the newly-created role of global category director for sexual wellbeing and footcare.
He will report to Rakesh Kapoor, executive vice-president of category development, and will lead development of the Durex and Scholl brands.
The appointment sees Volker return to his roots having started out in Reckitt Benckiser's German business as a junior brand manager.
Kapoor said: "We are delighted that Volker's career has brought him back to Reckitt Benckiser. He has done an excellent job developing and growing Durex and Scholl at SSL and I am confident that he will be able to accelerate that even further with the Reckitt Benckiser support behind these two exciting new Powerbrands."
Sydow's new role may prove encouraging for north west agencies Code Computerlove and McCann Manchester, which both worked with SSL before its acquisition.
No announcements have yet been made about the fate of SSL's Manchester-based marketing team.