Sadie Chalkley, managing director of Tenbury Wells hardware and housewares retailer J G Banfield will assume the BHF Group chain of office in 2009. In doing so she will become the first woman to lead the trade association.
Sadie said "I look upon this opportunity to serve the members as a great honour and I can assure members that I will give my all to the task, not because I'm a woman, but because I am an independent retailer and independent retailers deserve the best."

Alan Hawkins, group managing director commented: "We have awaited the arrival of our first woman president for a very long time and I am delighted that Sadie will be taking up this important leadership role."

Roger Lownsbrough of The Complete Cookshop in Bakewell, who was to have stepped up to the presidency next year has instead stood aside, citing the need to give his full attention to his business in difficult times. Alan Hawkins said of this: "It is sad to be losing Roger so close to his planned presidency, but I quite understand his reasons and must thank him for all the hard work he has put in as vice president over the last three years."