DIYWEEK.net

Following their rapid expansion with acquisitions of 39 Wyevale and eight Hillview centres, British Garden Centres has moved to significantly strengthen its board of management.

Charles and Robert Stubbs will remain as joint managing directors with overall responsibility for the strategic direction and development of the group. Phillippa Stubbs continues with her Finance, Administration, IT and HR Board responsibilities.

New to the board is Ricky Towers who has been responsible for the rapid development of the Gardeners Retreat and Coffee Haven restaurant offers. Towers will become group restaurant director.

Robin Bosworth has played a pivotal role in the expansion of the group over the last five years and he will now take on the role of group operations director, which includes the regional management structure as well as Health & Safety and Merchandising.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, who joined from Hillview in December, becomes Group PR  and communications director. In addition, they have made further management appointments across the business including product forecasting, procurement, property management and internal audit.

Commenting, Charles Stubbs said: “I want the business to continue to grow and develop with the same agility and energy as we have achieved in the past. With 57 centres, we now need a larger structure supporting the stores, with people who understand the business model and our ambitions.

"It’s vital that we continue to create the conditions which give everyone in the business the freedom to develop their ideas and respond to their customers. I’m delighted that the new Board share the family’s vision – they all understand and applaud the way we do things here at British Garden Centres.”

There are also plans to create a new position on the management board and the business hopes to announce the appointment of a trading director with group buying accountability in the next few weeks.