Woof woof! No time to ‘paws’ for thought this week, my friends, as the pace quickens at Dobbies now that Mr Marshall is getting into his stride.

Didn’t take him long, mind you. By all accounts, just two weeks in and he had already recruited a dozen senior staff…and some of them will be names you know from Mr M’s last spell in charge at Wyevale/The Garden Centre Group, before the new brooms from Terra Firma got sweeping.

Among those reported to have joined Mr M at Dobbies in his quest for experienced personnel is the former head of restaurants at Wyevale, Costas Constantinou, who will take on a similar role.

Then there’s Andrew West, who, some of you may recall, was head of home and garden at The Garden Centre Group, then joined Hillier garden centres as head of purchasing. He will now be Dobbies purchasing director, apparently.

Lorrie Robertson is reported to be back, too – as chief operating officer, a role she performed as acting CO back then.

Marcus Eyles, who once worked with Mr M at Country Gardens before building up his Garden Store group and selling it to Hillview, is said to be taking over Dobbies online operation.

The developer of The Garden Centre Group’s much-admired staff e-learning project, has also been recruited, apparently to do something similar for Dobbies.

‘Sources’ (a word the President of the US of A hates, I hear) say there are more appointments to come.

Looks like the HR department at Lasswade is going to be pretty busy…

Until the next time, woof….and woof again.