Company Shop Group has appointed Chris Burns as its new group managing director. He took over on Monday 3 February and brings a wealth of retail experience to the role, most recently as a board member and commercial director at pet specialist retailer Jollyes.
During his four-and-a-half years at Jollyes, Burns played a key role in the company’s expansion strategy, doubling its retail footprint to more than 100 stores nationwide. His leadership was instrumental in revamping the customer offer and attracting new investment.
Prior to Jollyes, he held senior positions at several major UK retailers, including trading controller at Poundland and head of fmcg at Wilko, as well as senior buying roles at Asda and Tesco.
He takes over from Owen McLellan, who was MD of the surplus food and household product redistributor from January 2023 and announced he was leaving the position in September.
While leading the group, McLellan was widely credited with a significant contribution towards the company’s turnaround over the past two years, helping guide it through a difficult transition period while it integrated with parent company Biffa.
‘Proven track record’
Burns said Company Shop “is a brand I’ve long admired. It plays a vital role in the fmcg supply chain, helping manufacturers and retailers solve their surplus challenges while providing our members with quality products at discounted prices. I’m thrilled to be taking the helm and look forward to working with the team to further develop our offer and expand our impact for our people, our stock partners and the environment.”
Maxine Mayhew, chief operating officer at Biffa, added: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to Company Shop Group and the Biffa Group. His proven track record in retail leadership and commercial strategy aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.
“Biffa is committed to enabling a circular economy and delivering more sustainable solutions to help combat the UK’s waste challenge, and Company Shop Group plays a vital role in leading surplus redistribution and supporting us to deliver on our sustainability strategy.”
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