Position: Retail director Company: Leathams The job: Bell will lead a fresh sales and marketing strategy for the Merchant Gourmet brand as part of a sales team restructure. He said: "Backed by an increased marketing investment, Merchant Gourmet has a dynamic programme of sales and marketing activity ahead. Coupled with an aggressive new product development programme, this offers significant opportunity for continued strong growth of the brand." He said he wanted more speciality products transferred into mainstream lines. He also said he wanted to exploit opportunities for the company in chilled foods and ready meals. Background: Bell has worked in the fmcg sector for 16 years and was previously commercial director of Princes Foods' UK manufacturing division. He began his career in the 1980s as a sales representative for United Biscuits in Scotland. He moved to London in 1986 and became trading manager for the McVitie's account. After a stint as Jeyes' national account controller, he became sales director at the New Covent Garden Soup Company when it was still part of S Daniels. He became md in 1998 and moved to Shippams in 2000, where he worked as sales and marketing director for a year. {{PEOPLE MOVES }}