The personal hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark has appointed Tony Palmer as its new chief marketing officer.

Palmer joins the company from his four-year post as UK managing director for food company Kellogg.

In a new role for Kimberly-Clark, Palmer will be responsible for leading the development of a global focus on marketing, and working to establish a long- term marketing investment strategy.

Based at Kimberly-Clark's world headquarters in Dallas, he will be work closely with the marketing teams for each of its consumer, health care and professional businesses in the UK and around the world, reporting to chairman and chief executive officer Thomas J Falk.

Falk said: "Tony brings a proven record of delivering strong operational results as well as global marketing experience with some of the world's most commonly known brands."

Palmer joined Kellogg in 2002 as vice president, later taking on the role of president of the company's natural and frozen divisions. From 1996 to 2000 he held a variety of senior marketing and general management positions at Coca-Cola in the US, and before that at Mars Confectionary in his native Australia.

He described his new role as "a dream assignment", adding: "Kimberly Clark is a great company with strong brands that have a clear emotional attachment to consumers. I look forward to contributing to the company's success by building an enhanced marketing capability that reaches across businesses and regions."

Kellogg's president for Europe, Tim Mobsby, will lead the board until the company's succession plan is completed, and a new managing director has been appointed. Mobsby said: "I wish Tony well in his new role and thank him for his significant contribution to our business."