ScS has made a series of senior appointments including two new appointments to the management board, reporting to the group’s CEO, David Knight.
New chief financial officer, Chris Muir, has joined the business. As well as finance, Chris will also have responsibility for IT, business reporting and company secretarial matters. Chris’ appointment, as previously announced, follows the decision by Ron Turnbull to step down after more than 10 years. Chris joins from Northgate.
Kevin Royal, formerly the group’s sales director, has been appointed its new MD, with responsibility for its 97 stores throughout the UK, plus 28 concessions within House of Fraser. Kevin joined ScS in 1981 as a trainee store manager, when it was purely a North-east-based retailer, and has played an instrumental role in leading its retail division.
In addition, Marie Liston, formerly the group’s HR director, has been appointed to the new role of corporate services director. Marie, who has been with the group for 15 years, will continue to oversee its HR operations, and will also have responsibility for customer service, internal audit, health and safety and regulatory compliance, as well as central administration and the group’s property functions.
ScS has also commenced the search to further strengthen the team with three additional directors in key roles – ScS sales director, brand development director, responsible for the group’s House of Fraser concessions, and commercial director, responsible for continuing the company’s growth in flooring sales and seeking partnership deals with household insurance companies and other such B2B opportunities.
Kevin comments: “These are very exciting times for the group and all of our employees. In the past five years through the introduction of long-term consumer interest-free finance, our partnerships with famous brands such as La-Z-Boy, G Plan and Parker Knoll, and the launch of our concessions in House of Fraser, we have seen our share of the UK sofa market grow. The introduction of flooring to our business has made us a unique national retailer offering both sofas and flooring under one roof. This has enabled us to grow our sales per square foot, due both to our very successful sofa sales and the introduction of carpets and flooring products in 2012.”
David Knight, ScS chief executive, adds: “These appointments clearly demonstrate our commitment to planning for the group’s future, developing all areas of our business further and enabling us to maximise opportunities for growth. We’re also looking to further strengthen our management team with the appointment of three new director roles in order to support our growth plans."
