Management revamp at Waterstone’s
Steve Knott to take board role
HMV Group has announced details of changes to the management structure of its Waterstone’s book chain.
Brian McLaughlin, currently chief operating officer and acting managing director of Waterstone’s, will retire at the end of the year, while remainng on the board as a non-executive director. McLaughlin agreed to postpone his retirement last year when former Waterstone’s MD David Gilbert resigned due to ill health.
Recruitment of a new Waterstone’s MD is underway, and with “experienced leadership now in place throughout all the group’s businesses, and a proven senior team at Waterstone’s, the board does not intend to appoint a new group chief operating officer”.
Steve Knott, managing director of HMV UK and Ireland, will join the HMV Group board in August.
HMV chairman Robin Miller said: “We are indebted to Brian for building HMV UK and Ireland into a highly respected market leader, with an outstanding group of talented employees and a passionate, performance driven culture.
“During the last four years he has made a much wider contribution to performance improvement across the group, and we are delighted that he will continue to share his experience and wisdom in a non-executive capacity after his retirement. On behalf of the board and everyone in the group I would like to wish Brian a happy and fulfilling retirement.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve Knott to the board. He brings with him a wealth of retailing experience and this promotion is a richly deserved recognition of the contribution he is making in leading the group’s largest business.”
