Very Group brings in new data and marketing chiefs

Online shopping giant the Very Group has made a double appointment to its leadership team, shipping in a new group head of data as well as a new marketing director, as the firm reinforces its commitment to drive innovation and leverage technology and data to improve its customer offering.

Andrew Ford has taken up the group head of data role with immediate effect, joining from AO, where he held the same role for just under two years. Prior to that, Ford held senior roles at commercial property giant CBRE, Amazon Web Services, Hitachi Vantara and Manchester Airport Group.

He succeeds Rob McCormick who this week revealed on LinkedIn that he had stepped down after an eight-year spell, insisting “the time has come for me to move on. I’ve loved every minute of it”.

The Very Group’s data and AI strategy focuses on profitability over sheer sales volume, heavily investing in automation, hyper-personalisation, and data democratisation.

In July this year, the group launched a major three-year partnership with UiPath to integrate Agentic AI into its pricing systems.

With over 90% of its online customers holding a flexible credit account, the group treats its vast combined financial services and retail data as its number one investment priority.

It also partners with tech platforms like Constructor to deliver AI-driven search, browse, and automated interactive quiz functionalities that adapt instantly to anonymous and collaborative customer behaviours.

Meanwhile, the group has also appointed former Frasers Group executive Beckie Crane-Stanion as its new marketing director, succeeding chief customer officer Jessica Myers, who left the business in May.

With experience spanning fashion, sport and beauty, she previously worked for Abbott Lyon, where she was consultant global brand director, leading the brand’s evolution from a jewellery label into a lifestyle and gifting destination.

Prior to that, she led the marketing department at Frasers Group through its elevation strategy, alongside chief executive Michael Murray. Before that, she worked agency-side with UEFA, The FA and the NFL.

At Very, she will lead the brand, creative and marketing strategy, overseeing how The Very Group engages with customers across all key channels. This will include managing teams across brand, marketing and Hello Studio, the group’s in-house creative agency.

The company also recently rolled out retail media division Very Media Group, backed by SMG.

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