Allen (pictured) moves into the role following the promotion of Rakesh Kapoor who was named as the company’s next chief executive officer last month.

She has been with the firm since 1996, and has served in senior marketing roles across eastern Europe before becoming marketing director for the US.

Allen was then made general manager for Canada in 2003 before moving to the UK as a global category officer for germ protection, surface and personal care in 2006.

The role covers market research, product design, marketing strategy and digital marketing for the firm’s category development activities.