Carpetright plc : - Senior Management Appointments

2 May 2013

Senior Management Appointments

Carpetright, Europe's leading specialist carpet and floor coverings retailer, announces the following changes to its senior management structure:

?      Graham Harris1 will join the Group as Trading Director with effect from 7 May 2013.  In this newly-created Executive Committee-level role, Graham will have responsibility for product, buying and logistics.

?      Martin Harris will become Group Development Director, a new Board-level role reflecting the increased focus on the development of all aspects of Carpetright's customer-facing activities, including store development, marketing and the further evolution of the digital channel. 

?      Lord Harris is reducing his day to day executive involvement as envisaged in the management succession plan announced in May 2012 but will work closely with Graham for an initial period to support the transition of responsibilities.

Darren Shapland, Chief Executive, said: "As part of the management succession plan, we have been working hard over the last twelve months to put in place the best possible future management structure.  The changes announced today are the next step in this plan as we focus on the continued growth of the business.    

"I'm pleased to be welcoming Graham Harris to the Group.  He is a highly experienced retail executive, with a near 30 year track record at some of the UK's largest and most successful retailers, and his background in hardline categories leaves him well-qualified to take on the newly-created Trading Director post.

"Graham's appointment as Trading Director will free up time for Martin to focus on critical growth aspects of our business, such as the development of our customer proposition, including how our stores look and feel, the Carpetright brand, our marketing programme and developing our digital channel, which is increasingly important to the business. 

"In line with the succession plan we began implementing in mid-2012 Lord Harris will reduce his day to day involvement but will be working closely with Graham and the team over the coming period to ensure a smooth transition."

1 N.B. Graham Harris is no relation of Lord Harris and the Harris family  

-Ends-

Enquiries

Carpetright plc

Darren Shapland, Chief Executive

Tel: 01708 802000

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Kevin Smith / Lindsay Noton

Tel: 020 7638 9571

Notes to editors

Graham Harris

GH (46) has almost 30 years retail experience gained in a variety of Store Management, Finance, Commercial and General Management roles.          

Graham spent 12 years (2000-2011) in a variety of senior roles at Tesco, including positions as CEO Tesco Mobile & CEO Tesco Telecoms (2010-2011), Commercial Director UK Hardlines (2005-2010) and Category Director Electrical & Entertainment (2004-2005).  His previous experience includes roles at House of Fraser (1997-2000), The Burton Group (1987-1997) and Woolworths (1984-1987)