Gardman CEO Stewart Hainsworth has created an eclectic group of talented managers to deliver the new corporate brand strategy of driving growth in wild bird care and gardening categories.
“Consumer brand development is at the heart of our business strategy and Gardman must focus on its efforts to enhance its Wild Bird Care and Gardening offer,” explained Stewart Hainsworth.
“Our goal is to provide our retail partners with innovative products, ranges and offers to encourage garden centre customers to up-trade to higher value and quality purchases while still maintaining consumer choice with a complete value for money option. Gardman’s management team has been enhanced with a wider range of skills and expertise combining home grown and fresh talent from the gardening industry, FMCG and international expertise.”
Category management is under the leadership of new Category Director Tim Goff, who joined at the beginning of March. With a background in FMCG, Tim combines expertise in pet and bird care with a detailed understanding of the way consumers think in a competitive retail environment.
Reporting directly to Stewart Hainsworth and working alongside Duncan Ross, Garden Centre Sales Director, are new appointees Chris Clark, National Sales Director and Paul Murden, International Sales Director. Chris Clark has a successful FMCG track record in Bob Martin, Nestle and Mars working with major national multiple accounts while Paul Murden has 18 years FMCG experience as a Commercial Director in International markets.
Sarah Downing, Marketing Director, is leading the brand strategy aimed at driving greater sales value for Retailers. Scott Kilshaw, Supply Chain Director joins from Solus, a 16 year veteran of the Garden Industry and Mark Little, Finance Director completes the new senior management team.
Stewart Hainsworth continued: “I am delighted after six months as CEO to announce the new members of the Management Committee. Gardman is looking forward to driving continued growth throughout 2014 and our new recruits have the talent and expertise necessary to improve our offer to retailers and consumers.”
New appointments have also been made at Category and Account Manager levels. Reporting directly to Tim Goff is new recruit Henry Corbett, joining in mid-April from Solus. Henry will lead new product development and merchandising with greater emphasis on brands including Moulton Mill, for premium tools, and the industry’s leading solar lighting brand, Cole & Bright. Newly promoted Ed Deane, Senior Category Manager is responsible for gardening. In addition, the senior sales team has been enhanced with new National Account Managers, Emma Clarke from Knauf Insulation and Adrian Aitken joining from Solus.
Career histories
Tim Goff has joined from Phones4u where he was Head of Partnership Trading, responsible for the partnership stores within Curry’s. Prior to this post he was Head of Buying for Pets at Home and Senior Ambient Buyer for Woodward Foodservice, a company within the Big Food Group plc.
New to the gardening industry, Paul Murden has extensive international experience in new market launches, distribution and brand building, most recently as CEO of Russian Vodka Holdings. Working for Gallaher Group Plc, as Divisional Managing Director, Paul was responsible for operations in the Middle East, Africa, India, Pakistan, the Baltic States, Ukraine and Russia.
Chris Clarke has a track record with International FMCG companies that includes the management of accounts with Asda, Tesco and Morrisons, and is the former Sales Director, Bob Martin UK.
