LONDON (Alliance News) - Conviviality PLC on Tuesday said it has appointed David Robinson as managing director of Conviviality Retail, the business unit focused on the group's franchise store operations.
Robinson has over 20 years' experience working in senior roles across the retail industry and joins from Home Retail Group PLC where he was a member of the executive board and chief operating officer of Argos. Prior to this, he was commercial director at both Argos and Homebase. Robinson also held senior roles at Dixons Stores Group PLC, now Dixons Carphone PLC.
Robinson's start date will be confirmed in due course, Conviviality said.
The news comes after Home Retail announced last week it is selling the Homebase DIY chain to Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd, and after it was revealed that supermarket chain J Sainsbury PLC last year put in a failed bid to buy Home Retail, with its sights on Argos.
Sainsbury's is expected to make another bid for Home Retail, for which Argos will be its only remaining business, and must do so under UK takeover rules by Tuesday of next week. This makes Robinson's departure from Argos for a role at a much smaller company particularly significant.
Also on Tuesday, Conviviality said it has appointed Mark Simmonds as commercial finance director at Conviviality Retail. Simmonds joins from FTSE 250-listed pub company Mitchells & Butlers PLC where he was director of financial planning and analysis. He will take up his role in March.
"I am delighted to welcome David as managing director of Conviviality Retail. David brings a significant track record of delivering results and has a wealth of experience in the retail industry. David is ideally placed to continue to develop and grow the Retail business with our Franchise partners," Chief Executive Diane Hunter said in a statement.
"We are also pleased to welcome Mark as commercial finance director for Conviviality Retail. We believe we now have a strong team in place to drive the Conviviality Retail business forward," she added.
Shares in Conviviality were trading down 0.7% at 202.50 pence on Tuesday morning. Home Retail shares were up 0.4% at 150.00p.
By Karolina Kaminska; karolinakaminska@alliancenews.com @KarolinaAllNews
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