Nicholas Marshall steps down as CEO of Garden Centre Group
Nicholas Marshall
Garden Centre Group CEO Nicholas Marshall has suddenly left the company with chairman Stephen Murphy taking control until a successor is appointed.
The company announced this week that Nicholas had left with immediate effect, after four years in charge.
In an official statement Stephen Murphy said: "The board would like to thank Nicholas for his significant contribution to the company.
"Under Nicholas' leadership over the last four years, the Garden Centre Group has established itself as the garden centre market leader in the UK with a high quality horticultural offering in 129 garden centres across England and Wales.
"It has also expanded its restaurant and concession businesses to be major contributors across the estate."
The Garden Centre Group, which is owned by private equity firm Terra Firma, is the UK's largest garden centre operator with 129 stores in England and Wales. Terra Firma bought the GCG in March.
Guy Hands, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Terra Firma, said: "Terra Firma thanks Nicholas for having done an outstanding job at stabilising the business over recent years and focusing its core business on providing first class products to Britain's gardeners.
"We look forward to working with Stephen Murphy as he builds on the strong platform for growth that Nicholas leaves behind."
The company has already startred the search for a new Chief Executive.
Nicholas Marshall, a trained accountant, has worked in the horticultural industry for over 25 years. He is the great great grandson of Joseph Hooker who was a famous botanist and Director of Kew Gardens.
"I would like to thank everyone in the Garden Centre Group for their unceasing hard work and loyalty over the last four years. They should all be very proud of their achievement," he said.
