ATLANTA — Consumer packaged goods marketing and retail veteran George Russell has been appointed as chief executive officer of PureRED | Ferrara, a digital strategy specialist.

PureRED | Ferrara said Russell joins a long-standing management team as it focuses on the acceleration and delivery of cross-channel marketing solutions in the digital realm for retailers and CPG firm.

George Russell

“Because of his extensive business management expertise and innate understanding of consumer packaged goods and retail, George is the perfect person to elevate the company to new heights,” stated Ned Truslow, managing director of RFE Investment Partners, an investor in PureRED | Ferrara.

Russell comes to PureRED | Ferrara, most recently, from the private equity community, where he spent about 19 years. That included a stint as chief operating officer for Duane Reade drug stores as operating partner with Oak Hill Capital Partners.

Prior to that, Russell helped lead the turnaround of Energizer Holdings Inc.’s Schick & Wilkinson Sword as vice president of global business management, and he held various brand marketing roles for Procter & Gamble Co.’s Gillette brand.

Russell began his career at Young & Rubicam working on Johnson & Johnson and Kraft / General Foods accounts.

He also has served in board leadership roles in the health care, technology and consumer product sectors for companies and organizations, including National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the American Marketing Association.

PureRED | Ferrara’s clients include Lowe’s, Dollar General, Rite Aid, Heinz, Arm & Hammer, Johnson & Johnson and Kimberly-Clark.