Wyevale Garden Centres said welcome on Monday (14 March) to a new CEO. Roger McLaughlan, 52, takes over from Kevin Bradshaw – and as his last job was MD of the UK arm of Toys’R’Us, now is the perfect time for all those Wyevale managers who fancy they’d like to see a few more cuddly toys in their stores to step forward…

Seriously, though, McLaughlan’s arrival could put paid to the speculation that equity group Terra Firma are about to part with their garden centre chain. On the other hand, perhaps they feel the new man’s experience in branding and merchandising over the past 25 years can quickly produce the stardust that will wow future suitors.

While Kevin Bradshaw has achieved much during his three-year tenure, acquiring 30 stores, improving efficiency and profitability and upgrading catering, the group is still seen by many to lack the mass-market brand appeal that would deliver a reputation as a well-loved household name.

McLaughlan knows retail backwards, through his experience at Asda (he ran the Living business and was responsible for re-juvenating the George fashion brand), M & S (where he was head of selling for womenswear) and of course at Toys ‘R’ Us, where he took the reins in 2012 at a challenging time and in a difficult consumer environment.

People speak well of him. He is said to be a great motivator, an ideas man with a sense of humour and a passion for leadership. Perhaps he can bring a light touch and a sense of fun to the serious business of broadening the appeal of Wyevale Garden Centres to new consumers.

He doesn’t sound like the  kind of CEO who will throw his toys out of the pram at board meetings...