LONDON--Weber Shandwick is expanding its consumer marketing offer in the UK, promoting Rachel Friend to a larger role and adding former Britvic CMO Andrew Marsden to a non-executive role.

Friend becomes senior managing director at the firm, after joining as consumer marketing MD in mid-2010. The former Sainsbury's PR head now has  responsibility for all of the consumer businesses at Weber Shandwick, including consumer, sports marketing, consumer tech, consumer health, digital consumer marketing and in-house production agency Creation.  

Friend's promotion follows the arrival of Gabriela Lungu to head Weber Shandwick's EMEA consumer practice in London.

Since arriving at Weber Shandwick, Friend has led double-digit growth from the agency's consumer and sports marketing practice, delivering two Olympic campaigns and adding new briefs from Electrolux, Motorola, RDIO, Nespresso, Warburtons and Young’s.

In addition, the firm has named Marsden as non-executive director, sitting on Friend's newly-created consumer marketing board. Marsden brings 25 years of board experience at both Britvic and Unilever, and 35 years as a marketing director.

Weber Shandwick has also promoted Andrew Ager to creative director, Wayne Fick to art director and Liz Wolstenholme to head of planning for UK consumer. Additionally, it recently appointed a UK head of new business in Mark Barber, and digital account director Emma Robertson.

“Since Rachel’s arrival, our work in consumer and sports marketing has been transformed," said Weber Shandwick EMEA CEO Colin Byrne. "Two Olympic campaigns, five awards, double digit growth for two consecutive years. In recognition of this, I have asked Rachel to lead our entire consumer marketing offer, to engage UK and global CMOs. She has a proven track record to deliver outstanding results.”