PEOPLE NEWS Tong appoints non-executive chairman


Tong Garden Centre has restructured its board, as it gears up for future growth and multi-site operations. The garden retailer’s non- executive


director, David


Stanhope is stepping up to the position of non-executive chairman at the Tong Lane business with immediate effect. Tong managing director Mark


Farnsworth said: “We have been working with David since 2016 in his capacity as our non- executive director and this step


has been planned for some time.


David’s experience results in


managing multisite businesses and strong track record of delivering exceptional


will be invaluable in helping to meet our own ambitions. “David has also become a trusted advisor and I am personally really looking forward to working more closely with him to drive the business forward.”


Mr Stanhope, who lives


in Lytham St Annes, is also divisional CEO of an IT software


business, as well as a former retail finance director, and is looking forward to lending his strategic expertise to Tong’s board: “I see my two main roles as firstly providing leadership to the board, both in meetings and the setting and implementation of strategy, and also to support Mark in carrying out his role. “I look forward to helping in


any area of the business where I am able to add value.” When he’s not working, Mr Stanhope is a golf club captain and is also a school governor.


Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson bought Tong Garden Centre in May 2015 for an undisclosed sum. The pair has subsequently invested nearly £4million in improvements to the centre. Turnover has trebled since they took over and the business has created over 100 new jobs. Tong


Garden Centre is


one of Yorkshire’s biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.


Kybotech appoints general manager


Garden building manufacturer, Kybotech has appointed a new general manager to head up the manufacturing and operational side of the business.


Paul Copestick joined from


Kairos Group, where he worked as group business improvement manager and, prior to that, head


of 150 manufacturing for


Synseal Group. He will be leading the manufacturing and operational over


teams, managing employees


New commercial sales director at Wyevale Nurseries


Ian Wright joined the business this month and will head up three sales teams at Wyevale Nurseries, with a view to driving sales through all


product sectors.


Prior to his role at Wyevale Nurseries, Ian Wright worked as a sales manager at Boningale Nurseries in Albrighton, selling trees and shrubs to the amenity market. He handled a number of key accounts and managed a team of five sales executives and four administrative staff. He has also worked for various nurseries including Grangemore Plants,


Hallmark Plants,


Johnsons of Whixley, Robin Tacchi Plants, Deepdale Trees Limited, J A Jones Nurseries and Tacchi’s Nurseries. Mr Wright


said: “I feel


enormously lucky to be joining, not only a very experienced and talented sales team, but also a business that has great knowledge, experience and a desire for quality.


“As well as heading up the sales teams, I will be using my instinctive commercial judgement to strengthen relationships and suppliers.”


with customers Wyevale Nurseries managing


director Andy Johnson said: “Ian comes to us with extensive experience in the amenity sector, which is so important to us, given our extensive market-leading operations in trees, transplants and premium containers.”


6 DIY WEEK 09 AUGUST 2019 and market Industrial estate in and


the 870,000sq ft factory and warehousing facility on the Dukeries the town.


Mr Copestick will be ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the facility, working closely with and developing and supporting the operational teams within the business to


Bathroom Takeaway grows head office team


Bathroom Takeaway has announced four key appointments in its sales and logistics departments. Peter Johnson is now head of trading, Irfan Jamil is head of operations and facilities, Gary Stanley, warehouse manager and Raffaele D’Arienzo is warehouse supervisor, with immediate effect. The


four individuals


have collectively worked at Bathroom Takeaway, which is headquartered in Trafford in


Manchester, for 14 years and their promotions are reflect their hard work and dedication, said the retailer. The candidates have also demonstrated ambition and drive to support Bathroom Takeaway’s new digital direction. Bathroom Takeaway director Chris Norton said: “It is such an exciting time to be part of Bathroom Takeaway investing


in our people


further their career is fantastic. Peter,


Irfan, Gary and Raffaele have been key members of


and to


the Bathroom Takeaway family for many years now and it’s brilliant to be able to show our appreciation and to invest and develop their careers even further.”


help drive it forwards. Kybotech operates


from a


20-acre site in Nottinghamshire and sells more than 165,000 sheds, log cabins, playhouses, green houses and outdoor garden buildings online each year under the brand names BillyOh.com and GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk. Commenting on Mr Copestick’s appointment, COO Christopher Palmer-Smith said: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul to the team and such a senior appointment


reinforces


how committed we are to build on the success of Kybotech and continue to grow.”


The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA)’s AGM took place on July 10 and saw Taylor’s Eye Witness joint managing director Alastair Fisher appointed as president.


This is


a non-executive position and Mr Fisher succeeds Roger Morgan Grenville of Dexam in the role. The AGM also confirmed the BHETA Board as:


The DRH Collection managing


director David Holmes - Treasurer Andrew Weiss – chairman Will Jones - chief operating officer Clare Holland - finance director QEP Vitrex CEO European operations Paul Boyce Eliza Tinsley CEO Rythm Jain Eddingtons commercial director Richard Walker Black + Blum managing director Nick Cornwell Monument Tools managing director Jonathan Collier


Smart Garden Products appoints pet industry marketing expert


Pet Industry marketing expert Peter Johnson has joined Smart Garden Products to head up its newly-created pet division that will launch at Glee under the Zöon brand. The new brand is pronounced ‘Zow-On’ and takes its inspiration from the Greek word for pet. Mr


Johnson appointment: said of his “When the


company offered me this role, I was delighted to accept. I am


really looking forward to working with Paris Natar, Jonathan Stobart and their amazing team to bring this exciting new project to market, kicking off at Glee in September. Smart is the natural choice to launch such an innovative and much-needed new Pet brand, with their industry leading service, stock levels and total commitment to customer care.” Smart


Garden Products chairman Paris Natar commented:


“We are thrilled to have Peter on board given his extensive Retail, Product and Pet Industry expertise. Pet Care as a sector has proved to be uniquely resilient and


complements our core


gardening businesses perfectly. There is a clear market opportunity within the Pet market for Smart and we sincerely hope that our retail partners will like what they see when we unveil it all to them at Glee.”


www.diyweek.net


L-R: David Stanhope and Mark Farnsworth


BHETA


announces new president


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