Notcutts boss Andy King quits to join Tesco's
 |
Andy King, the Chief Executive of Notcutts Garden Centres, has quit the company to join the Tesco Group as Managing Director of Dobbies. The move comes a week after the announcement that Dobbies CEO James Barnes and Finance Director Sharon Brown had left the Tesco-owned garden centre business.
In a statement Notcutts said that after five and a half years of successful leadership, Andy King has decided that the time is right to move on, in order to take advantage of a significant career opportunity at the Tesco Group.
The statement continued: "Both the Notcutts family and all those who have worked with him are very grateful to Andy for the contribution he has made to Notcutts, and for the professional and commercial focus that he has brought to the business during his tenure as CEO.
"The search for a new CEO has already started, and Notcutts are confident that they will be able to appoint a first class successor to Andy, given the quality, brand and reputation of the Notcutts Group and the progress made under Andy’s stewardship.
"Finance Director Andrew Staff will take the role of interim CEO following Andy’s departure. The strength and depth of the current management team will ensure that the business continues to be run as normal until the new appointment is made."
Edward Creasy, Chairman of Notcutts, said: “Andy has worked with great commitment to develop Notcutts as a company and a brand over the last five years and he leaves the company in excellent shape. We wish him the very best as he moves on to the next stage of his career."
Notcutts is a family-owned group of 19 individual garden centres, each with their own distinct character. The company was started in 1897 and since that time its name has stood for excellence in gardening, offering what it believes to be the best products and friendly advice to help its customers.
A spokesperson for Tesco said: "Andy joins us from Notcutts Garden Centres business where he has been CEO since 2007. He has over 25 years of UK, international and multichannel retail experience with 12 years at board level. Prior to Notcutts he spent his early career at Boots, W H Smith and Mothercare before joining the Body Shop as Global Marketing Director.
"Andy will help continue to grow Dobbies from our current position; and help us focus on bringing the brand to more customers, working across all channels and with the core Tesco business.
"Andy takes up his role at the beginning of September and Dobbies Commercial Director, Katharine Poulter, will continue to lead the business in the meantime."
Meanwhile, Max Britten, currently working within Group Financial Planning and Analysis Management at Tesco Group, is seconded to head up the Dobbies Finance Team as interim Financial Director, reporting to Katharine Poulter. Max has varied Finance & IT experience across a number of companies, including Unilever, Mars, BAA and Associated British Food before joining Tesco three years ago."
|
|
