Very Media Group Taps Retail Media Veteran Paul Stafford to Lead Expansion

Very Media Group, a prominent entity within the digital fashion and lifestyle conglomerate The Very Group, has significantly bolstered its leadership team with the strategic appointment of Paul Stafford as its new Head of Retail Media. This move signals an ambitious acceleration for the Liverpool-based retailer's retail media ambitions, positioning Stafford as a pivotal figure in its next phase of expansion and innovation.

Stafford brings a wealth of experience, boasting over 18 years in the brand, digital marketing, and retail media sectors. Notably, he played an integral role in the successful launch of Superdrug’s acclaimed retail media network, Optimo. His proven track record in developing and scaling retail media propositions makes him an ideal leader to steer Very Media Group towards its strategic objectives.

In his new role, Stafford will be the driving force behind the evolution of Very Media Group’s retail media proposition. His responsibilities will encompass shaping the network’s long-term strategy, strengthening pre-existing relationships with brand partners, and forging new strategic alliances. The ultimate goal under his leadership is to establish Very Media Group as the "multi-category retail media network of choice for brands" across diverse sectors.

Jessica Myers, Chief Customer Officer at The Very Group, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating: “We’ve been operating in the retail media space for over 12 years, so we’re building on strong foundations. The appointment of Paul comes at an exciting time. Not only will he bolster our senior leadership team, but he’ll be working closely with our outstanding team to offer brand partners even more success in their campaigns through our new enhanced first-party data solution, Very iD.” This highlights Very’s long-standing presence and its commitment to leveraging advanced data capabilities.

Paul Stafford himself shared his motivations for joining: “Very’s bold marketing activity and purpose of helping families get more out of life really stood out to me. It’s a challenger brand that’s embracing retail media and has a data-first approach to customer success.” His comments underscore the cultural alignment and the innovative, data-driven ethos he believes Very Media Group embodies.

Very Media Group, which officially launched in partnership with SMG in 2024, represents a sophisticated reimagining of The Very Group’s established retail media offering. It strategically integrates the online retailer’s robust in-house creative capabilities with its unique blend of personal, shopping, and financial data. This powerful combination enables the creation of highly insights-led campaigns, delivering significant value and effectiveness for some of the biggest household brands.