PEOPLE NEWS ON THE MOVE...


Steve Cooke leaves Rolson Tools for role at Loving Pets UK Steve Cooke has left Rolson Tools where he was business development manager for 13 years to take up the role of sales director at Loving Pets UK and Europe. Mr Cooke brings with him 35 years of experience dealing with major retail chains, distribution channels, trade, and the fast-growing online sector.


He said of the move:


“After many happy years at Rolson, I have been presented with a new and exciting opportunity which I have decided to pursue.” Loving Pets UK & Europe managing director Jonathan Moyce said: “is ideally positioned to help take Loving Pets to the next level in the UK and Europe.”


Kingfisher head of supply chain to be replaced Chief


offer & supply chain officer Arja


Taaveniku will be replaced in her role by Henri Solère. Ms Taaveniku joined the group three years ago in order to create a consolidated


product, buying and supply chain organisation as part of the One Kingfisher transformation plan. She said: “It’s now the right time to hand over to Henri. Henri has been an instrumental member of my leadership team and I trust that he will ensure the future success of the next phase of the development of the offer. I will be on-hand to help Henri transition into the new role.” Mri Solère has worked for Kingfisher for 11 years and has been a member of the offer and supply chain leadership team since it was established. He led two of the seven offer and supply chain categories under Ms Taaveniku, including the development of the unique product range in bathrooms.


George and Martin Hillier


Hillier appoints two new directors to board Hillier Nurseries has appointed two new members to its board of directors; George Hillier and Martin Hillier. Both appointments were effective from Thursday, September 6, with George continuing to


manage the property portfolio as director of property and Martin taking on the role of a non-executive director. Hillier chairman Robert Hillier commented: “We are extremely


proud to be a family business that looks to the future, so it is wonderful to have the fifth generation of the Hillier family involved at board level to continue to build on the fantastic achievements of the past 154 years, and to drive this forward in the coming years.” George, who is Robert Hillier’s son, has worked in the company for 17 years. He began as a garden centre assistant, and worked his way up to become manager of the Hillier Chichester Garden Centre, before progressing to area manager for three years and then into his current role, where he manages property acquisitions and developments. The second board appointment is George’s cousin, Martin, who joined Hillier in 1992 as a supervisor at the company’s Brentry Container Unit. He is currently senior manager at Broadmead Trees, running the production and despatch of Hillier containerised trees.


New HTA appointments The Horticultural Trades


Association


(HTA) strengthened its board with several key appointments


ratified at its AGM on September 11.


Boyd Douglas-Davies from Hillview Garden Centres was appointed vice-president, Bents Garden & Home’s Matthew Bent was appointed a diector of the board, along with Kelkay’s Richard Pyrah from Kelkay, and Oakover Nurseries’ Brian Fraser.


6 DIY WEEK 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 that were


10 minutes with... Surinder Josan


Owner of All Seasons DIY shop in Smethwick and BIRA national president 2018-19


What is your background in the industry?


I’ve worked in my family DIY store since I was a teenager at secondary school and I used to come home from school and assemble


flat-packed kitchen


cabinets ready for delivery. Even whilst I was studying


Electronics at university, I always had a fascination for how other


retailers and management operated


and, occasionally, dropped into business


lectures out of curiosity. Whilst working for the family business, I joined the local Sandwell Traders Association and, within a couple of years, I went on to chair it for over seven years. We have been members of The BHF for decades, and about five years ago, I was elected to join the BIRA board of management. I also sit on the BHF committee.


What are your plans to take BIRA forward? My plans for bira going forwards are to chase all avenues for bringing about a level playing field,


for retailers. The biggest thing we are focusing on at the moment is business rates reform and we’ve just been to the Houses of Parliament to present our plan to MPs. Another goal of mine is to grow BIRA’s membership base.


What does your new role involve and how does it fit with your day job? My new role involves a lot of travel all over the country, and abroad to visit other like-minded members


of bira, attending


conferences and conventions, and trade fairs. I promote the work of bira, attract new members and showcase the issues faced by independent retailers.


What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? 1.Offer a lifetime warranty on a selected range of products. I learnt this at a BIRA ‘grow your sales’ training course over 10 years ago. 2. If there are two hunters in a jungle – you don’t have to run faster than the animal, you


just have to run faster than the other guy.


What is your favourite memory from working in the industry? Winning the 2014 ‘Retailer of the Year’ award and speaking in Parliament, addressing MPs about business rates.


What are the biggest issues facing


independent retailers in the DIY sector today? Keeping pace with the rapid pace of technological change, although this is not restricted to the DIY sector.


What motivates you? The desire to source quality products at “down to earth” prices. Addressing customers problems with unorthodox solutions.


What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in your career? I purchased a container of merchandise (valued at £40,000) without viewing it for £2,100!


www.diyweek.net


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