Wickes has bolstered its executive and marketing teams with the appointment of Ian Crook as marketing director.

Mr Crook spent more than six years as marketing director of Tesco.com and two years in the same role at Tesco Stores. In joining the team at Wickes, he will work to strengthen the retailer’s customer-centric approach and multi-channel strategy.

As a top-level marketer at Tesco, Mr Crook worked with the company’s board on key growth strategies including national and international digital, social and multi-channel strategy. He was also responsible for the recruitment, development and coaching of many of the company’s senior marketing figures. Before that, he honed his marketing skills at the Early Learning Centre and The Retail Group.

Simon King, managing director at Wickes, said: “Ian brings to Wickes more than 20 years’ high-level marketing experience, and we are confident that under his leadership, Wickes will thrive as a truly multi-channel retailer and trade supplier. Putting customers at the centre of all we do has long been the focus here at Wickes, and with Ian’s appointment, the development of a sector-leading online and multi-channel strategy is now within our sights.”

Mr Crook himself said: “I am excited to have joined Wickes and to be spearheading the marketing strategy for a forward-thinking, dynamic organisation with a reputation for value and quality. Wickes’ strong standing in the British retail landscape, both with consumers and with tradesmen, is a great starting point and I look forward to differentiating our brand and our customer strategy as the marketplace continues to evolve.”