Marie Curie appoints new Head of Digital

Marie Curie Cancer Care has appointed Claire Hazle as its new Head of Digital. She joins the charity from Carnival UK, the FTSE100 parent company of P&O Cruises and Cunard Line, where as Head of Digital she was responsible for developing the first ever digital strategy for the two brands. She also built and led a 15-strong department that managed all website, e-commerce and digital marketing activity. Previously she worked at Cancer Research UK where she led all digital activity for Race for Life.

Claire will spearhead a significant digital business transformation programme at Marie Curie that will enable multichannel relationships with supporters, patients and their families. This cross-functional programme will also introduce digital technologies as part of broader efficiency improvements that will benefit patient care.

Claire said: “I’m excited to be joining the charity at a time of great change, challenge and opportunity. Our digital agenda is being driven by our Chief Executive, which is incredibly important to the success of any digital transformation programme.

“One of my first priorities will be leading the delivery of a new website, with a programme of continuous optimisation and enhancement to follow. The new site will be built using responsive design, reflecting the growing number of people accessing our online information through smartphones and tablets.

“We’re recruiting a significant number of new roles for both the Digital and Marketing teams who will play a key part in driving Marie Curie’s digital development. The digital disciplines we’re recruiting – such as eCRM, User Experience, Project Management, Product Management and Digital Marketing – reflect the step change we’re making.

“I’m really looking forward to leading the Marie Curie Digital team to achieve our ambition of becoming a multichannel leader in the charity space and beyond.”

Claire will have a dual reporting line into Chris Dainty, Director of Communications for Marie Curie, and Charlie Hooper, who joined Marie Curie last summer as the charity’s first Chief Information Officer. Before Marie Curie, Charlie was at Deloitte LLP where he led the Public Sector team in Deloitte’s Enterprise Risk Services Data Analytics practice.

Commenting on Claire’s appointment, Charlie said: “We have embarked on the most significant digital transformation programme the charity has ever seen so we are very pleased to have Claire join us. She is gathering a skilled team around her from inside and outside the charity and is in the perfect place to shape and lead our digital capability.”

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