New Gem division hires sales manager

Gem Distribution’s new venture, Gem Design and Sourcing (GDS), has named Joanne Gilman as its UK sales manager.

Earlier this month Gem announced the new retail division, which replaces its Exspect business, which will now only serve as a ‘product only label’ available to retail.

Gilman joins GDS from Magicbox, a design-led brand selling into the audio and telecoms market. In addition, she held the role of sales & marketing director at IDS UK for over 10 years.

Says Gem Design & Sourcing general manager, Mike Sanderson: “By creating the GDS division of Gem and hiring Jo, with her experience in this area, we now have an umbrella for all of our in-house brands, including Exspect, which remains one of our core strategies, but will now sit under GDS.

“Jo, working alongside Gem’s business development team can skilfully offer retail, products with a point of difference, which will in turn offer improved margins. I’m delighted with Jo’s appointment and look forward to watching GDS develop.”