Bensons for Beds appoints new CEO as it steps up growth plans
Bensons for Beds has promoted Nick Collard to the position of chief executive as the company prepares for further growth.
Previously chief commercial officer, he joined the business in July 2021 after holding board roles at Holland & Barrett International, DFS Furniture and Morrisons, as well as senior roles at Walgreens Boots Alliance.
He has succeeded Mark Jackson who has stepped down after leading the company for three years. Jackson steered Bensons through a refinancing and restructuring deal in 2020 which saw it emerge as a standalone company, backed by Alteri Investors.
Bensons has also named Gordon Brown as its new chief financial officer. He will replace existing chief financial officer John Sidebotham who has decided to step down after completing the restructuring.
Brown has worked as finance director at Bensons since October 2020. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Asda, Jack Wills and Pets at Home.
Bensons chairman Ian Shepherd said: “Bensons is a business with huge potential. Like many retailers in our sector, we’ve had our share of operational and supply chain issues as the world has recovered from the pandemic, but we are focussed on delivering for our customers and on delivering our strategy for growth.
“As we start to look forward to the next phase in our transformation, Mark and John have decided that this is the right time to leave the business. I would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment as they steered us through extraordinary times.
“We are delighted to have appointed Nick Collard as CEO. Nick is a tremendous leader who has already transformed the commercial operations of our business and is well placed to drive the delivery of our strategy and of a transformed customer experience.”
In further news, Bensons has appointed Ed Preston as chief commercial and digital officer, and Frankie Haynes as chief customer officer.
Meanwhile, Maxine Blackwell will continue as chief people officer and Mandy Winser as chief operating officer.
Shepherd said: “Bensons is a business with huge potential. Like many retailers in our sector, we’ve had our share of operational and supply chain issues as the world has recovered from the pandemic, but we are focussed on delivering for our customers and on delivering our strategy for growth.”
Gavin George, founding chief executive of Alteri Partners, added: “We look forward to working with Nick and the new executive team as we continue to support Bensons’ development as it presses ahead with its transformation programme.”
Bensons is currently reshaping its 170-strong store portfolio and investing in its digital offering, distribution operations and Huntingdon manufacturing site.
