As has been already announced Isabelle Ottiger, Winsor & Newton Global Brand Director, has decided to relocate with her family to the US as her husband has been offered a new role in Chicago. Her last day in the office will be Wednesday, July 27th.
Isabelle joined Colart in 2014 as Brand Director for Snazaroo and received the additional responsibility for Reeves in 2015. She then moved to the Winsor & Newton Brand in 2017. Isabelle led the Brand to significant growth during the last years based on a clear Brand strategy and Brand roadmap. She championed the move to an artist led communication strategy and the launch of sustainability driven NPD projects such as cadmium free watercolour/oil and the move to cardboard packaging on the Winsor & Newton Graphic Art ranges. Isabelle has built a strong team, both nurturing and developing people in the business, as well as recruiting new team members to help drive digital democratisation. She leaves the Brand in a very good place, with leading preference scores in our key markets, increased emotional connection with artists and a clear Brand framework on which her successor can build.
Her successor will be Helly Summerly who joins us with fantastic experience in premium brands, including most recently with Neal’s Yard, where there are many similarities with Colart in particular their focus on sustainability and digital. Helly will start her new role on the 8th August and will be based in the London Hub. Helly has kindly offered to come to the London Hub for 5 days in July to enable an “in person” handover with Isabelle.
Given the importance of the Winsor & Newton brand for Colart, Isabelle will continue to give support to Helly during September and October with a clear focus on the Brand Positioning work which will be finalised during Q4. We will all miss Isabelle, and I would personally like to thank her for all her hard work on the Winsor & Newton Brand and for being such a critical member of the Comex and Marex teams.
I wish her and her family, including the dog (!) every success for her exciting new life in the US.
Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Helly.
I look forward to her joining the Colart family and to the next stage of the development of the Winsor & Newton Brand.
Gail Pasquier
Chief Commercial Officer
Isabelle – you will certainly be missed, but I am excited for you and the family on your new chapter in the USA!
And, a big welcome to Colart Helly – we are looking forward to working with you.
We will really miss you, the impact you have made on the brand has been tremendous; not only ensuring the safety and access of the archive but also in seeking to differentiate our audiences, their needs and contexts . Sorry you are leaving and the very best of luck in the US for you and your family.