Blue Marlin attracts two senior clients to the agency fold—packaging innovation specialist and heavyweight blue chip marketer join integrated brand design firm London, Sydney and Singapore—Blue Marlin is delighted to welcome David McGowan to further strengthen its award winning structural design team.McGowan starts this week as Packaging Innovation Director with a brief to keep the agency at the forefront of developments in packaging technology and sustainability, and to help clients derive the greatest value from product and packaging innovation. He brings with him a wealth of brand innovation, technical and industrial experience gained over 23 years with Anheuser Busch, Bacardi, Allied Domecq and Bass.

Photo:McGowan, a packaging innovation director

Also joining this week is Kay Twine, a senior marketer and managing director, who will provide strategic and commercial support for the fast growing Asian hub in Singapore. Twine has 26 years’ experience gained with Sara Lee, Remington, Alberto Culver, Schwarzkopf and Avon Cosmetics, as well as a strong track record as a general manager in FMCG, consumer electronics, fashion and accessories. She will act as a Consultant for the Singapore operation, helping to establish new clients for Blue Marlin, which has been working across the region for nearly ten years. The move has come about as a direct consequence of client demand, with multi-national clients, such as Unilever, Shell and Cadbury, placing greater emphasis on emerging markets.

Photo: Kay Twine, a senior marketer and managing director

Global CEO Andrew Eyles says, “We feel fortunate indeed to be able to attract such top talent from client companies. Both Kay and David are top-flight practitioners with huge expertise and they will help Blue Marlin meet the needs of our key client partners. David will be a great asset as we help clients to realise their ambitions of launching and repositioning brands with new, innovative and more sustainable packing formats. He has tremendous experience across production management, quality management, global innovation, marketing, supply chain procurement and R&D. Kay offers us a unique combination of marketing gravitas and insight, maturity as a business leader and experience of operating in Asia.”

McGowan comments, “I am looking forward immensely to working with the very talented team of industrial designers at Blue Marlin. Product and packaging innovation is a tremendously exciting area and one in which Blue Marlin has already shown great flair. I believe with my experience and passion,

I can enhance our offer to clients by enabling them to increase efficiency and improve effectiveness whilst reducing cost, maintaining quality, and driving sustainable innovation. As development partners we will push the boundaries of what’s commercially achievable in an ever changing world.”

Twine remarks, “I have a lot of respect for Blue Marlin. I have seen it grow from start-up to international network, all the while delivering inspired, effective creative work, great strategy and in-depth understanding of the commercial world. When the opportunity came up to help it develop further in my favourite region in the world, it was too good to miss.”