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Dobbies Garden Centre has announced the appointment of two new directors, George Hutchinson and Richard Herbert, as part of efforts to strengthen its executive team.
News of the appointments comes as operations director, Nick Anderson, steps down after 12 years with the business.
Hutchinson previously served as regional operations director at Pets at Home and has held senior roles at Wickes, B&Q and Tesco.
He said: “Over the last few months Dobbies has relaunched two stores, with more to come – to see that level of investment in both the fabric of the stores, and the store teams, is brilliant. I’m really looking forward to playing a key role in driving Dobbies forward and building on the positive developments that have taken place this year.”
Meanwhile, Herbert joins from Bourne Leisure, where he led its national food and beverage offer. He spent nearly 12 years at Pizza Express, most recently as central operations and programme director.
Herbert said: “There is huge potential with the restaurants at Dobbies and I’m really excited to be joining the team. It’s been great to see the programme of investment with new menus, new coffee shops and coffee counters. I’m looking forward to leading our team to deliver the best possible experience in our restaurants.”
The appointments follow a series of senior hires over the past 18 months, bringing additional experience in retail, hospitality and commercial strategy.
David Robinson, chief executive of Dobbies, added: “We’ve been focused on building a really strong senior team and we’re proud to share the news of these recent appointments. Both George and Richard bring fantastic experience that complements the expertise we already have in place. They’ll each have essential roles in driving forward our strategy, building on the strong start we have had this spring so far.
“We’d like to thank Nick for his tireless hard work and commitment over the last 12 years. He’s a hugely respected figure in the team, and he’s seen Dobbies through many challenges and successes over the years. We wish him all the best for the future.”
