Very hires ex-Frasers CMO Beckie Crane-Stanion. AO’s Andrew Ford takes over its data

The Very Group has named Beckie Crane-Stanion marketing director, the retailer said on 30 September. She was chief marketing officer at Frasers Group from 2020 to 2024. On the same day Very confirmed Andrew Ford as group head of data, moving across from online electricals seller AO.

Crane-Stanion runs brand, creative and Hello Studio at Very

Crane-Stanion will lead brand, creative and marketing strategy, and customer engagement across the main channels. Her remit covers the brand and marketing teams and Hello Studio, the in-house creative agency. She reports to Sam Wright, chief customer and commercial officer. Very runs the Very and Littlewoods retail brands.

She joins from Abbott Lyon, where she was consultant global brand director. At Frasers she led marketing through the group’s push upmarket under chief executive Michael Murray. Earlier, on the agency side, she worked with UEFA, The FA and the NFL. Wright said she joins as the company moves into “the next iteration of our brand journey”.

Andrew Ford replaces Rob McCormick after eight years

Ford starts with immediate effect, DecisionMarketing reported. He spent just under two years in the same role at AO, after posts at CBRE, Amazon Web Services and Manchester Airport Group. He will run data and AI strategy, which Very has tied to profit rather than sales volume. Rob McCormick leaves after eight years.

Jessica Myers left the customer chief role at Very in May

Chief customer officer Jessica Myers left Very in May 2026, Marketing Week noted. Private equity firm Carlyle took control of Very in November 2025 and has backed spending on automation and personalisation.

Other UK retailers have also changed their marketing and data leadership this autumn. Morrisons named Mohsen Ghasempour its first chief AI officer. In the US, Target handed Roundel to its new marketing chief.

Ford is already in post. Very has not said when Crane-Stanion starts, so it is not yet clear whether she will sign off this year’s Christmas campaign.